Write to read: an evidence-based approach to promoting communication and health literacy in an early intervention system
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Abstract
Health literacy is the ability to obtain, read, and understand health information in order to make informed health decisions. Low health literacy is a global public health problem that contributes to increased health care costs, greater health care disparities, and decreased health care outcomes. Nearly 9 out of 10 U.S adults have difficulty accessing the health information necessary for meeting everyday health needs for themselves or for his or her family members. Health care providers need to use best practice strategies available to offer health information that is readable and accessible to a diverse population of adult learners. The WRITE TO READ: An Evidence-Based Approach to Promoting Health Literacy in an Early Intervention System is an online workshop for direct service providers serving client families of children, ages 0-3, receiving early intervention services in the state of Tennessee. Through the workshop, intervention providers will acquire an increased understanding of the impact of health literacy on client-family participation. The WRITE TO READ workshop will use a synchronous distance education platform to deliver an online workshop to participants across the state. Each of the three online sessions will provide education for service providers to advance health literacy skills. In addition, the workshop will promote peer collaboration and problem solving in a virtual community of learning environment. Workshop participants will include physical, occupational and speech therapists, all providing direct service coordination and education for client families in the Tennessee state early intervention system. The outcomes of this proposed pilot project is anticipated to serve as a protocol for future online workshops to promote greater understanding of health literacy concepts, theories, and interventions to a global occupational therapy community. Furthermore, the results of this project will lead to increased understanding of the global impact of limited health literacy on consumer health outcomes, health care costs, and health care disparities.
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This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author.