Health Literacy: Health is Not One-Size-Fits-All
The term health literacy means the degree to which an individual can understand medical terms about symptoms and illness, follow directions for procedures and therapies, and ask pertinent questions. Simply put, the way you respond to a medical diagnosis may not be the same way your neighbor responds, even with living in the same place. Even if we don’t realize it, we all carry perceptions and beliefs about what our health and medical care should include. Some may prioritize preventive care while others wait until there’s a known problem before they make an appointment. Those patients who wait may have a different concept of health literacy; they may think the symptom will resolve, they may have been raised with different ideas on medicine, or they may say they don’t want to waste a provider’s time if it’s nothing. Perhaps people have work obligations or transportation issues that prevent them from attending appointments sooner. Each patient's unique upbringing or culture influences their perspectives, values, beliefs, and behaviors regarding health and wellbeing. These personal characteristics impact how symptoms are recognized, reasons for seeking care, understanding or agreeing with proposed management strategies, expectations of care (including preferences for or against diagnostic and therapeutic procedures), and acceptance of preventive measures and medications.
Misunderstandings on treatment plans, ways to take medications, and next steps can be common. It is important to share with your providers what your own beliefs or perceptions are so that no assumptions are made. A simple way to let your provider know you understand the plan? Repeat it back to them in your own words! By speaking up, these misunderstandings can be eliminated or addressed before a serious medical issue arises. This can also help foster trust and respect between you and your provider.
Effective communication on your beliefs, values, expectations, and what matters to you puts you in the driver’s seat of your medical care.
