Fwd: AACN Critical Care Newsline-why this group is important!

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In a message dated 17/04/2004 17:05:17 Central Standard Time, Notes@...

writes:

> 2. Reports Cite Health Literacy Problems

> Nearly half of all adult Americans have difficulty understanding and acting

> on health information, and even well-educated people have trouble

> comprehending healthcare instructions, according to two new reports. A

> study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that those

> with lower literacy skills are less likely to use preventive care and are

> more likely to have difficulty understanding informed consent forms,

> diagnoses and medication instructions. A simultaneously released report by

> the Institute of Medicine found a higher rate of hospitalization and use of

> emergency room services among patients with limited health literacy. The

> IOM report and recommendations said that health professionals and

> policymakers have little understanding of the extent and effects of the

> problem, which may lead to billions of dollars in avoidable healthcare

> costs.

> The AHRQ report, titled " Literacy and Health Outcomes " , is available online

> at

> http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/evrptfiles.htm#literacy

> The IOM report, titled " Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion " ,

> is available at

> http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=19723