Healthwise Aberdeen
Hungry to Learn
Health and Community Staff Area
Healthwise Aberdeen provides:
- Free, confidential tutoring and advice to anyone who would like to return to learning, brush up on their skills, or learn more about health.
- Free advice on clear communication with patients who may have low literacy skills.
- Advice on producing Plain English publications.
- Awareness raising sessions on health literacy.
- Groups on a range of health literacy topics.
Healthwise has a range of resources that can be taken out to centres
for community use by Healthwise tutors.
Resources include:
6 laptops
3 printers
1 digital camera
3 boxes of cooking equipment (for full list of equipment click here)
1 microwave
What is health literacy?
“Health literacy is the ability to read, understand, and act on health care Information” http://www.healthliteracymonth.org
Health literacy is a growing movement. It is particularly strong in America, where the threat of legal action makes informed consent a priority. There are now various health literacy projects in Britain, with three in Scotland.
Why does health literacy matter?
Health literacy is relevant to all health staff. Health staff report communication in the health service can be difficult for various reasons. It can be particularly challenging if people have low reading and writing skills, do not speak English as their first language, have hearing or visual impairments, or cognitive or emotional disabilities.
If you work with the public, in any capacity, you have probably come across someone with low literacy skills.
- 23% of adults in Scotland have serious problems with reading, writing and numbers.
- Many would be unable to understand the dosage instructions on a medicine label.
- 49,000 people in Aberdeen have problems with literacy.
- Only an estimated 800 of these people are currently taking part in literacy courses.
Health workers in Aberdeen have told of situations where:
- Young mothers are unable to read and follow instructions have difficulty in making up milk formula.
- There have been difficulties in giving people information in an understandable format and easy to read language.
- People have taken the wrong dose of medicine because they cannot read the prescription instructions.
- Patients fail to attend appointments because they cannot read appointment cards/letters.
- People are not able to read nutritional advice on food labels.
- People find signs in health centres and hospitals confusing.
For further information please click here.
