Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example

Health is an essential factor in every individual life, and it is imperative for every individual to know about their health status. Understanding personal health status helps especially in management and controlling of any disease that a person might be having. Health literacy and knowledge, in general, allows a person to have awareness about a particular disease and to use the information to find ways to control the disease to live have the better living condition. Health literacy involves the ability that a person can gather information about health and use the required information to make effective decisions about their health. The paper discusses in details health literacy and knowledge and provides the similarities and differences in traditional and hospice settings and challenges with the geriatric population including legal, social, and ethical considerations. Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example

The geriatric case management in this case of health literacy and knowledge is to ensure that there is reduction in illiteracy concerning health care and diseases affecting the people in the society. Education is an essential factor in the country therefore through geriatric assessment it will ensure that every person attains knowledge which will enable them to make informed and critical decisions concerning their health. According to Berkman et al., (2011) proclaim that literacy is the superior factor in determining the importance of health as many people with low literacy level always find difficulty in understanding direct and easy information’s, for example, drug prescription.

Increase in literacy level concerning health in a society usually brings health disparities especially if a small group of people have acquired the knowledge necessary to translate and understand any health terminology. Many people who have low literacy level usually misuse drugs and are not able to follow the prescribed instructions on the intake of drugs or follow the prescriptions wrongly. Many individuals who have low literacy level concerning health usually don’t take any preventive measures including regular health checkups. According to Pandit et al., (2009) explains that many people in the US have diminished health conditions, especially from chronic diseases due to failure to undergo early screening which has contributed to their worsening of the health conditions.Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example

Through bio-psycho-social assessments there is the need of improving the health condition and ways of preventing various diseases by the societies arises which assist in human development and systematic view of an individual health status. The most important way of achieving the objective is through creating awareness on health literacy and knowledge. Finding the health information in the society that produces disparities in the society is of the importance to put the focus. Gazmararian et al., (2013) says that there is the need of creating awareness to the many communities of the world, especially in the developing countries to understand the health issues and always be in the frontline to take precautions to ensure they have a better and quality health. The health literacy and awareness mainly focuses on public understanding and having a clear clinical understanding on drug prescriptions and taking the proper precautions on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This is through identifying early sign and symptoms of various diseases and using the healthcare facilities to ensure they get access to adequate medical services. Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example

The USA government and non-governmental institutions have increased awareness of health literacy and knowledge with the various implementation of programs, for example, civic education on health matters which have resulted in a significant reduction of health illiteracy. Many public health facilities especially those mostly visited by the elderly individuals the geriatric services have been utilized that have led to development of various methodological techniques to ensure the public have access to health information which will reduce the health illiterate in the societies. These methods include health awareness through the social media and conducting of several campaigns which are aimed at informing the society the need to be literate concerning health issues. Offering the masses printed materials in a language known to many people in a particular geographical location has improved health education. Many healthcare facilities have also come with an initiative of sensitizing the public about health issues and creating a conducive environment which offers effective communication between the public and the health facilities allowing the public to raise several concerns about various health issues. Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example

Many individuals who are illiterate concerning health issues have been found to be exposed too many poor health status with unhealthy characteristics including excessive intake of alcohol and smoking of cigarettes. These same individuals usually possess poor communication skills regarding their health leading to a weak diagnosis of their health resulting to improper use of medications. Possession of literacy and knowledge concerning health issues such individuals usually have healthy lifestyles because they typically have the right consciousness in the way of preventing various diseases and ailments than those individuals with poor knowledge on health issues (Welsh, Gordon & Gladman, 2014). According to geriatric management in many cases concerning health literacy and knowledge many individuals who lack enough knowledge about health have a higher chance of getting infections because good health depends on a person self-management abilities.

There is the importance of promoting health literacy and knowledge to every individual in the society. Many people usually get health literacy through education from the government where they are taught on the many types of diseases and provided information on how to prevent the said diseases (Sykes et al., 2013). For example, many governments in developing countries usually use the national control programs especially in prevention and controlling malaria and tuberculosis together with maternal health. Bio-psycho-social assessment has categorize the complexity of many diseases nowadays have become difficult for many people to understand and have knowledge about them in the society which is only known by experts for example cancer disease. Many people are usually scared to get a clarification from health experts concerning various infection which has increased the level of illiteracy in the society. Many individuals with low literacy level are usually afraid and shy to ask the health providers on the usage of certain drugs which has led to misuse drugs. Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example

Health literacy and knowledge provide an efficient way of controlling and preventing the society from various diseases and to enable them to know the importance of quality life. Health literacy and knowledge have also promoted the public understanding multiple ways of maintaining a healthy life. These include using the health facilities, communicating with physicians, regular checkups, immunization especially to the children and improving hygienic conditions. Health Literacy and Knowledge Paper Example