At all levels, greater efforts are needed to promote a culture of health literacy in order to foster equitable access to healthcare for all, including people in vulnerable situations. In practice, this means the development of public policy at the local, regional, national and international levels. This also requires cross-sectoral collaboration with other stakeholders (interest groups, coalitions, alliances, networks etc.) and capacity building in health authorities and systems to strengthen the capacity and skills of the workforce.  

Health literacy public policy

Health literacy public policy is increasing. Governments across Europe are mobilising forces to increase health literacy in collaboration with non-state stakeholders such as academia, industry, and NGOs. For instance, several European countries have adopted nationwide health literacy actions plans, such as Austria, Norway, Portugal, and the UK (Scotland), which are driving interventions and programmes nation-wide to enhance population health literacy.

Mobilising health literacy communities and ‘champions’

Fostering health literacy communities is a key component in the promotion of health equity. This is because health literacy is highly cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary. Increased collaboration across sectors and disciplines can enhance the knowledge transfer and outcome of health literacy partnerships and programmes. Formal and informal interest groups, coalitions, alliances, networks, platforms as well as institutes, organisations, and associations help to discuss, assess and strengthen health literacy capacities at various levels in society (some examples below).

To implement health literacy, change-agents are needed to develop and drive impact. These change-agents, often called ‘health literacy champions’, may come from policy, academia, practice or civic society. The presence of advocates for organisational change is critical, however, their impact depends highly on support from leadership. A management structure and culture that supports health literacy innovation and quality improvement is essential for a successful implementation (example far below).

Capacity building in health authorities and systems

Health literacy authorities and systems become more ‘people-centred’ when they integrate health literacy as a cross-cutting, transversal value and strategy in all parts of their work. Resources include The ten attributes of health literate organizations, the Vienna model for health literate hospitals, and the Ophelia Toolkit (below) are examples of how to optimise health literacy in organisations and communities.

Health literacy as a professional skill – increasing the health literacy capacity of the workforce

Health literacy is creating job opportunities and requirements to enhance the workforce with the development of health literacy as a professional skill. Considering the general growth in health literacy research and policymaking, health literacy is becoming a skill and competency demanded by health authorities and systems.

This requires the inclusion of health literacy in the educational curricula of higher education and post-graduate training within a wide range of disciplines. In practice, this means attention to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health professionals, especially when dealing with people in vulnerable situations and those with limited levels of health literacy. In this regard, sensitivity towards culturally different people and groups in society is important. The integration of user-experience and testimonials as well as focus on the co-production of health services is also useful to develop.

Späť Health literacy Action Plan 2022-2026 – Türkiye

Health literacy Action Plan 2022-2026 – Türkiye

 Aim and objectives:

To increase nationwide levels of health literacy by developing necessary cognitive and social skills to access, understand and use health-related information in order to improve their health and maintain good health.

 Objectives:

  • to develop and implement assessment scales which determine the current state of health literacy of the population;
  • to develop and disseminate accurate, accessible and actionable health information;
  • to develop and implement software applications related to health, such as in E-NABIZ and MHRS: MHRS is a Central Physician Appointment System; E-NABIZ is a personal health record system which manages personal health information and is used by public and health professionals to view diagnoses and treatments, tests and examination reports, diagnostic imaging records and reports, prescriptions, vaccinations, visits of healthcare services, past and future appointments of patients;
  • to increase the health literacy of health care workers;
  • to raise social awareness about disease and risk factors;
  • to promote healthy lifestyle habits;
  • to raise public awareness of appropriate uses of health services;
  • to conduct monitoring and evaluation processes.

 Target Group:

The aim is to reach all segments of the public, including children, pregnant women, parents, persons with disabilities and older persons. 

 Method:

The Action Plan is carried out in cooperation with relevant stakeholders such as universities, TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute), TRT (Turkish Radio Television), private TV and radio channels, other ministries and NGOs. Ministries and their regional organisations prepare projects related to health literacy falling within the scope of their duty and responsibilities (e.g. the Ministry of Family and Social Services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, carry out health literacy trainings for families). Cooperation is in planning with the following institutions:

  • TUIK in the implementation of the assessment scales which determine the current state of health literacy of the population;
  • Universities for the evaluation of results of the abovementioned assessment scales and preparation of scientific publications;
  • TRT, Private Radio/TV Channels, traditional and new media channels for the preparation of content aimed at increasing health literacy for adults;
  • Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and relevant NGOs for the organisation and dissemination of activities throughout the country;
  • The Turkish Green Crescent Society for raising awareness about addiction;
  • World Health Organisation for studies on addiction and rational drug use.

For the efficacy and continuity of activities within the scope of the Action Plan:

  • according to the mission, vision and field of work of each institution, a responsible institution is designated among the partner institutions, which is also responsible for submitting a report about the activities every 6 months;
  • data regarding the activities carried out is input into the online monitoring platform for activities that are under the responsibility of stakeholder institutions;
  • the General Directorate of Health Promotion of the Ministry of Health monitors the process and preparation of progress reports every six months to ensure efficacy and continuity of the activities in the scope of the Action Plan.

 Outcome:

Improvements in and continuity of healthy lifestyle behaviours

 Added Value:

Low health literacy is the cause of various negative behaviours and outcomes, such as poor understanding of health-related messages, inappropriate use of drugs, increased hospitalisations resulting from the under-utilisation of preventive health services, and the overuse of emergency services. These situations challenge the efficient use of health services, they also lead to low productivity, increased morbidity and mortality, and an increase in the cost of medical expenses. On this basis, it is predicted that by increasing health literacy levels there will be an increase in general quality of life and a significant decrease in health costs.

 Outcome:

According to the “Health Literacy Level and Related Factors Survey of Türkiye (2018)”, in accordance with the Scale of Health Literacy of Türkiye-Türkiye Sağlık Okur Yazarlığı Ölçeği-TSOY-32, the health literacy levels of participants are reported as 30.9% (inadequate) and 38% (problematic-limited). Measuring the level of health literacy of all segments of society at regular intervals provides important guidance for actions and policies to improve health literacy.

The expected outcomes of the Action Plan are as follows:

  • providing opportunities to access reliable and understandable information for every member of society;
  • raising awareness among children and their families, by including health literacy as a subject in the basic education curriculum;
  • positive changes in healthy lifestyle behaviours of individuals;
  • individuals are involved in the decision-making process for their own treatment and care,
  • individuals comply with instructions for treatment, helping to reduce errors in drug (medicine) administration and use;
  • individuals have knowledge and take responsibility for their health and diseases they are faced with;
  • increasing awareness of society about the fight against substance addiction;
  • individuals have knowledge about reproductive health, occupational health and safety, health and care of older persons, patient care, environmental health, chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, infectious diseases, and comply with disease management programs;
  • increasing participation in health-promotion practices, such as cancer screening, prevention of risky health behaviours, prevention of home accidents, family education programs;
  • eliminating the lack of information on preventive health services and using these services effectively;
  • reducing inappropriate use of emergency services and hospitalisations;
  • reducing health expenditures.
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

Späť Vienna model for health literate hospitals – Austria

Vienna model for health literate hospitals – Austria

 Aim and objectives:

The Vienna model has the dual aim of fostering material conditions and creating a work culture inside health care organisations to make it easier for people to use information.

 Target group:

The Vienna Health Literate Organisation (V-HLO) self-assessment tool nis a questionnaire for quality managers of health care organisations. Its objective is to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation in terms of health literacy.

 Method:

The Vienna Health Literate Organization self-assessment tool focuses on nine standards and 22 sub-standards.

9 standards and the 22 sub-standards of the Vienna Health Literate Organisation

The organisation should:

The organisation:
1. Establish management policy and organisational structures for health literacy

1.1. Understands health literacy as an organisational responsibility
  1.2. Ensures quality assurance in the field of health literacy
2. Develop materials and services in participation with relevant stakeholders

2.1. Involves patient representatives in the development of materials and services
  2.2. Involves staff in the development of materials and services
3. Quality staff for health-literate communication with patients

3.1. Ensures that staff are trained for health-literate communication in diagnosis, therapy, treatment and care, and discharge preparation
  3.2. Ensures that staff are trained for health-literate communication in disease prevention and health promotion
4. Provide a supportive environment – health-literate navigation and access

4.1. Ensures barrier-free contact by internet and telephone
 

4.2. Provides all information needed for accessing the organisation
 

4.3. Ensures sufficient orientation support in the entrance area for patients and visitors to easily find their way
  4.4. Has an easy-to-follow navigation system and signage
  4.5. Ensures that patients and visitors have access to free health information
5. Apply health literacy principles in routine communication with patients

5.1. Face-to-face communication with patients follows health literacy principles
 

5.2. Written and audio-visual material are designed according to health literacy principles
 

5.3. The organisation provides resources to guarantee translation support when needed
  5.4. Communication in high-risk situations follows health literacy principles
6. Improve the health literacy of patients and their entourage

6.1. Patients (and their entourage) are supported to improve health literacy for disease-related self-management
  6.2. Patients (and their entourage) are supported to improve health literacy for healthy lifestyles
7. Improve the health literacy of staff

7.1. Staff are supported to improve the health literacy they need for managing job-related health risks
  7.2. Staff are supported to improve health literacy for healthy lifestyles
8. Contribute to health literacy in the region

8.1. Supports health literacy in continuous and integrated care
  8.2. Contributes to the development of health literacy in the regional population
9. Share experiences and be a role model 9.1. Support the dissemination and further development of concepts and practice of health-literate healthcare

 

 Outcomes:

The tool is suitable for conducting needs assessment to help hospitals raise awareness and formulate targeted actions to further strengthen their health literacy responsiveness.

 Added value:

Strengthening the capacity of hospitals to consider the level of health literacy of the population is needed to improve the quality of care. One way to develop adequate health literacy responsive policy and strategies in hospitals is the use of self-assessment tools to raise awareness, help prioritise action and mobilise stakeholders.

  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page