TY - JOUR
T1 - Health Literacy and the Patient With Heart Failure-Implications for Patient Care and Research
T2 - A Consensus Statement of the Heart Failure Society of America
AU - Evangelista, Lorraine S.
AU - Rasmusson, Kismet D.
AU - Laramee, Ann S.
AU - Barr, Joan
AU - Ammon, Susan E.
AU - Dunbar, Sandra
AU - Ziesche, Susan
AU - Patterson, J. Herbert
AU - Yancy, Clyde W.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Background: Low health literacy compromises patient safety, quality health care, and desired health outcomes. Specifically, low health literacy is associated with decreased knowledge of one's medical condition, poor medication recall, nonadherence to treatment plans, poor self-care behaviors, compromised physical and mental health, greater risk of hospitalization, and increased mortality. Methods: The health literacy literature was reviewed for: definitions, scope, risk factors, assessment, impact on health outcomes (cardiovascular disease and heart failure), and interventions. Implications for future research and for clinical practice to address health literacy in heart failure patients were summarized. Results: General health literacy principles should be applied to patients with heart failure, similar to others with chronic conditions. Clinicians treating patients with heart failure should address health literacy using five steps: recognize the consequences of low health literacy, screen patients at risk, document literacy levels and learning preferences, and integrate effective strategies to enhance patients' understanding into practice. Conclusion: Although the literature specifically addressing low health literacy in patients with heart failure is limited, it is consistent with the larger body of health literacy evidence. Timely recognition of low health literacy combined with tailored interventions should be integrated into clinical practice.
AB - Background: Low health literacy compromises patient safety, quality health care, and desired health outcomes. Specifically, low health literacy is associated with decreased knowledge of one's medical condition, poor medication recall, nonadherence to treatment plans, poor self-care behaviors, compromised physical and mental health, greater risk of hospitalization, and increased mortality. Methods: The health literacy literature was reviewed for: definitions, scope, risk factors, assessment, impact on health outcomes (cardiovascular disease and heart failure), and interventions. Implications for future research and for clinical practice to address health literacy in heart failure patients were summarized. Results: General health literacy principles should be applied to patients with heart failure, similar to others with chronic conditions. Clinicians treating patients with heart failure should address health literacy using five steps: recognize the consequences of low health literacy, screen patients at risk, document literacy levels and learning preferences, and integrate effective strategies to enhance patients' understanding into practice. Conclusion: Although the literature specifically addressing low health literacy in patients with heart failure is limited, it is consistent with the larger body of health literacy evidence. Timely recognition of low health literacy combined with tailored interventions should be integrated into clinical practice.
KW - Heart failure
KW - communication
KW - health literacy
KW - self-care
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U2 - 10.1016/j.cardfail.2009.10.026
DO - 10.1016/j.cardfail.2009.10.026
M3 - Article
C2 - 20123313
AN - SCOPUS:73049109979
SN - 1071-9164
VL - 16
SP - 9
EP - 16
JO - Journal of Cardiac Failure
JF - Journal of Cardiac Failure
IS - 1
ER -