Health Literacy - Getting Your Message Across: Clear and Effective Health Communication

Getting your message across and therefore providing responsive patient care is a primary goal in the understanding of health literacy.  In this module you will learn how to assess a person's learning needs, and readiness to learn. 

You will learn how to select key methods and tools to use when giving instructions that will help a person not only hear and understand, but take action on the health message.  We will address how to set priorities for health teaching, determine what to teach, and tips for teaching.   Supplemental materials are made available on effective use of teaching methods, audiovisual materials, use of printed handouts, and on teaching those with special learning needs.

Objectives:

Participants who complete this module will be able to:

1. Describe how to create a shame-free, supportive, patient-centered environment for those with low health literacy.
2. Determine a patient's learning needs and readiness to learn.
3. Describe key methods to clearly and effectively communicate health information.
4. Identify a variety of tools and materials that can be used to enhance clear health communication.
5. Relate developmental stages to appropriate teaching approaches.
6. Describe techniques that can be used to communicate with people who have the following special learning needs: hearing impairment, visual impairment, and cognitive impairment.

Note: If you need assistance accessing this course, have a disability that requires digitally accessible accommodations, or would like to request a digitally accessible course completion certificate, please email ScarletCanvasMedEd@osumc.edu or call 614-366-0943. We will respond to your request within two business days.