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Clin Colon Rectal Surg
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786389
Review Article

Addressing Low Health Literacy in Surgical Populations

Nathan C. English
1   Department of General Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
,
Bayley A. Jones
2   Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Daniel I. Chu
2   Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
› Institutsangaben Funding DIC supported in part by K12 HS023009 (2017–2019), K23 MD013903 (2019–2022), R01 MD013858 (2020–2025), R01 CA271303 (2023–2028), and U01DP006746 (2023–2028).
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Abstract

Health literacy is defined as the ability to obtain, engage, understand, and act upon health information to make decisions about health care. Health literacy is a key determinant of health outcomes and disparities including those in surgery. Over one-third of surgical patients suffer from low health literacy, with disproportionately higher rates among older, rural, and black patients. Low health literacy has been associated with poor adherence to preoperative and discharge instructions, longer lengths-of-stay, higher readmission rates, and higher health care costs. However, health literacy is modifiable, and therefore it is uniquely positioned for meaningful interventions at the patient, provider, and system level. These interventions include using more visual aids with patients and families (patient level), communicating in more understandable ways (provider level), and improving the organizational health literacy of hospitals (system level). Through high-quality research and multilevel interventions, significant opportunities exist to address low health literacy and improve outcomes, eliminate disparities, and reduce costs for this disparity population.

Keywords

health literacy - surgical disparities - surgical outcomes


Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
02. Mai 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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