%0 Journal Article
%T Assessing and Addressing Health Literacy
%A Sandy Cornett
%J Online Journal of Issues in Nursing
%D 2009
%I 
%X The ability to communicate effectively with patients who have low health literacy depends on our ability to recognize this problem and to create a patient-centered and shame-free healthcare environment. Because of the shame and embarrassment these patients experience, they often use their well-developed coping skills to mask their limited literacy. Although a number of reading- and comprehension-assessment tools are available, there is debate whether or not these tools should be used clinically. This article provides guidance in regard to establishing an environment that promotes health literacy, assessing health literacy levels, utilizing strategies to increase health literacy, evaluating the learning that has occurred, and incorporating health literacy concepts into the nursing curriculum.
%K assessing health literacy
%K evaluating learning
%K health literacy enhancement
%K healthcare system navigation
%K guidelines for plain language materials
%K low health literacy cues
%K measuring low health literacy
%K Newest Vital Sign (NVS)
%K oral communication
%K plain language
%K printed communication
%K photonovela
%K Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM)
%K teach back
%K Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA)
%K visuals in low health literacy materials
%U 10.3912/OJIN.Vol14No03Man02