Low health literacy among patients is a very real problem that needs to be addressed, according to Debra Udey, vice president of Risk Management at OMS National Insurance Company, which provides medical liability insurance.
Low health literacy among patients is a very real problem that needs to be addressed, according to Debra Udey, vice president of Risk Management at OMS National Insurance Company, which provides medical liability insurance. In an editorial in Medical Liability Monitor (12/04), Udey outlined the problem of low health literacy, or the inability of a patient to read, understand, and act on health information. She noted that the problem can negatively impact health outcomes and increase costs-with, for example, patients being noncompliant with their prescribed treatment regimens or failing to get preventive or life-saving care.
Udey recommends that physicians receive training to address the literacy problems and advises them to provide patients with health material written at a fifth-grade reading level, to always give patients the option on phone trees to speak to a real person, to substitute plain language for clinical terms, and to introduce one or two health concepts at a time, saving other concepts for a future visit.
SART data indicates rise in IVF use in 2022
April 24th 2024Dive into the latest statistics from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, revealing a 6% increase in in vitro fertilization cycles and a surge in egg freezing, amidst a landscape of rising fertility service demand and evolving clinical practices.
Read More
Hormone therapy safety: Study finds potential benefits for senior women
April 24th 2024A recent large-scale study challenged age-related concerns, suggesting hormone therapy may offer safety and even benefits for menopausal women aged over 65 years, aligning with The Menopause Society's 2022 Position Statement.
Read More