Health Info Too Complex for Many in U.S. - Report

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Health Info Too Complex for Many in U.S. -Report

Thu 8 April, 2004 22:53

By Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Drug labels, consent forms and other health

information often include too much jargon for most Americans to

understand -- a problem that can lead to poorer health and higher costs,

a panel of experts said on Thursday.

As managed care continues to squeeze doctors and lump more

responsibility on patients, the ability to grasp medical data is even

more critical, according to an Institute of Medicine report.

" Many people who deal effectively with other aspects of their lives may

find health information difficult to obtain, understand or use, " the

independent group, which advises the federal government on health

matters, said in its report.

Medical experts reviewed more than 300 studies and found language used

by doctors, insurance companies and researchers is often above a

high-school level. Information meant only for the public also includes

highly technical terms, they said.

About half of all American adults, or about 90 million, read below a

high school level, and half of those have trouble finding information on

charts, forms and labels, according to the report.

Older adults, non-English speakers and those with less education have

the most trouble, but the experts found native-born English speakers and

those with more education also struggled.

Less-literate patients with chronic conditions requiring constant

management are particularly vulnerable and can have trouble making

decisions about their care, the Institute said.

NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM

Difficulties navigating the health care system are made worse by the

flood of information from the government, food and drug companies and

the media, especially Web sites.

" People are frequently and repeatedly exposed to quick, often

contradictory bits of information, " the report reads.

The report also found such confusion can inflate costs.

Less literate adults are less likely to follow healthy lifestyles or

take preventive steps, and they are more likely to be hospitalized and

use emergency services, it found.

One study showed poor reading skills increased costs by $29 billion in

1996. The Institute said that figure could grow to $69 billion a year.

The experts reported their findings in a 331-page report that included

seven chapters, four appendixes and nearly 30 charts.

Some recommendations to make health information less complex included:

" ... a national consensus conference to initiate the development of

operational measures of health literacy which would include contextual

measures. "

" ... the development of conceptual frameworks on the intersection of

culture and health literacy to direct in-depth theoretical explorations

and formulate the conceptual underpinnings that guide intervention. "

While acknowledging their report may not be the best example of simple

information, the experts said it was clear medical professionals --

including researchers -- could improve.

" We all need to communicate better, " , the American Medical

Association's incoming president, said.

The report also said health care companies, federal agencies and others

should make documents more readable. Schools should also use real-world

health examples in math, reading and other standard classes, it said.

The report was paid for by Pfizer Inc., MetLife Foundation, the National

Cancer Institute, and the American Academy of Family Physicians

Foundation, among others.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org