TEACH BACK METHOD ATTENTION TO HEALTH LITERACY By Pamela Dozier BSN, RN

OBJECTIVES: The learner will be able to:  Define health literacy.  Explain the “teach back method.”  Recognize challenges or barriers to learning in the health care setting.  Identify techniques or tools useful for assessing learning in clients and families.  Identify resources available to facilitate learning in clients and families.

PURPOSE  To improve the assessment skills of nurses regarding health literacy and implementation of best practices to facilitate effective learning during the discharge planning/teaching process.

BACK- GROUND  Nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using the everyday health information that is routinely available in health care facilities.  Limited health literacy is associated with poorer health outcomes and higher health care costs.  Low health literacy disproportionately affects lower socioeconomic and minority groups.  40-80% of medical information patients’ receive is forgotten immediately and nearly half of the information retained is incorrect. Kessel (2003) Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (2010)

DEFINITION OF HEALTH LITERACY  Health Literacy is the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Dept. of Health and Human Services (Healthy People 2010)

“WHAT IS TEACH BACK METHOD?”  Is a way to confirm that you have explained to the patient what they need to know in a manner that the patient understands.  It is a test of how well you explained the concept.

CHALLENGES/ BARRIERS Language barriers Misinterpretation of information being given. Lack of identification of learning needs-nursing Lack of time to assess learning. (time constraints)-nursing Cultural diversity

WHAT IS TEACH BACK METHOD?

TIPS  “I want to be sure that I explained your medication correctly. Can you tell me how you are going to take this medicine?  “I want to make sure that I explained things clearly. So let’s review what we discussed. What are three strategies that will help you control diabetes?”  “What are you going to do when you get home?”

TECHNIQUES/ TOOLS  Visual aids  Handouts (appropriate reading level)  Language services  Hands-on

SUPPORTING Organizations  Department of Health Human Services (Healthy People 2010)  Institutes of Medicine  World Health Organization  Joint Commission and Accreditation

5 STEPS

TEACH BACK VIDEO: 

OVERALL GOALS  Health literacy occurs when the skills and ability of those requiring health information and services are aligned with the demand and complexity of information and services.  Self empowerment and self-efficacy growth in patients and encouragement to move from passive participants to activated informed consumers of health and health care. Parker and Ratzan (2010)

QUESTIONS?

REFERENCES  Ruth Parker & Scott C. Ratzan (2010) Health Literacy: A Second Decade of Distinction for Americans, Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives, 15:S2, 20-33, DOI: /  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) (2010)Health Literacy Universal Precautions toolkit resources/tools/literacy-toolkit/ resources/tools/literacy-toolkit/  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). National action plan to improve health literacy. Washington DC: Author