Consumer Health Literacy Research Study

How much do you know about stroke or heart attack?

The Trinitas Library is currently conducting a research study about the effectiveness of using interactive games to improve consumer health literacy about signs and symptoms of heart attack, stroke and basic understanding of commonly used medical terms.

The study is also available through the library's main website http://www.trinitas.org/ and also in the virtual world of Second Life at the exhibition hall on HealthInfo Island. Smaller traveling exhibits are being hosted around SL to capture a broader demographic base, such as at Virtual Egypt, Virtual-e Business Park and various garden sims.

The exhibit consists of 3 interactive quizzes testing the participant's knowledge. Answers and additional information are provided in note card format. You can even win prizes! A link out to a short survey through Survey Monkey is offered in a mailbox.

If you are in Second Life, please take a few minutes of your time to participate in this study by taking one or all of the quizzes and completing the short post-quiz survey. If you are not in Second Life, please go to the quizzes on the Library's main website.

Low health literacy affects everyone when you are not able to understand and manage your illness or navigate the health care system. How much do you know about the signs and symptoms of stroke or heart attack? Test your knowledge!

You can find HealthInfo Island under SL's search tool or use this SLurl http://slurl.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/18/25/22

Whether you participate through the library's website or virtually in web 2.0, what you learn could possibly save a life==including your own!

Health Literacy and You

What is health literacy and how does it affect you and your loved ones?
Health information is available everywhere, from consumer magazines to the internet you can read about health issues. Health literacy goes beyond that: its also about being able to understand and use that information when you need to make decisions about your health care.

Did you ever leave the doctor's office wondering what was just said, had trouble understanding how to take your medication or figuring out how find appropriate health care services? All that is part of health literacy and it effects people's ability to effectively manage their health care on many levels, including those with advanced literacy skills. Everyone can feel overwhelmed by health care information.

What are some examples of how you or someone you know can be affected?
There may be difficulty with:
* finding health care providers or services
* filling out forms
* communicating personal and health information with providers
* understanding how to manage chronic diseases
* understanding the relationship between lifestyle choices and health outcomes
* not knowing or recognizing signs when to seek medical care
* not understanding or misunderstanding medical terminology
* not understanding instructions on prescription bottles

Who is affected?
Did you know that only 12% of adults in the U.S. have Proficient Health Literacy? That means 9 out of 10 adults may lack the needed health literacy skills to manage their health care!

Even more worrisome, 14% of adults have Below Basic Health Literacy. That's over 30 million people!*

*source: http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm

What is the economic impact of this?
The estimated additional health care expenditures due to low health literacy skills are about
$73 billion dollars!*

*source: Health Literacy Fact Sheet http://www.agingsociety.org/agingsociety/publications/fact/fact_low.html

What can you do to improve your health literacy?
There are many things you can do. For example:
* ask questions. If you don't understand what the doctor or nurse has said to you, make sure to
tell them to repeat the information or to explain in "plain language"
* read all material your health care provider has given you. If you don't understand it, bring it
with you to your next office visit and go over it together
* ask the pharmacist to explain directions on your medication bottle if you don't understand
* request material and information in your primary language

These are just some examples how you can improve your health literacy. Don't be embarrassed to ask questions or ask health care providers to repeat. Your health care providers are your partners in health matters.

For more information:
* MedlinePlus: Health Literacy http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthliteracy.html

Health Literacy

Having health literacy skills is more than understanding medical terminology. It's also about being able to navigate the health care system so you can advocate for yourself and your loved ones, being able to fill out forms, comprehending diagnosis and treatment, how to communicate with your health care professional and much more.

When was the first time you realized that health literacy skills mattered? Was it due to an event, interaction, or experience you had as a patient or by a family member or friend?

Now you can share a story to promote why health literacy is important for yourself and your loved ones. Go to the Health Literacy Month website http://www.healthliteracymonth.org/ to find how you can share your story through their website, email, twitter, facebook...

Consumer Health Information Outreach Program

Did you know that looking up health or medical information on the internet is one of the most popular online activities? According to a 2008 Pew Internet Project, "78% of broadband users look online for health information." Popular search topics include information about medical problems, current medical treatments, diet, prescriptions, alternative medicine and more.

Where do you go when you need reliable, trustworthy information about your health?

Searching the web for health information can be a frustrating, daunting experience. Because of that, the Trinitas Library created The Trinitas Library - Consumer Health Information Partnership Program.

You may contact the library staff for consumer health level information through our website's email form or by phone. We will prepare a packet of information at no cost for you or your family to read and discuss with your health care provider.

So the next time you need health information, please don't hesitate to call or email the Trinitas Library!

We can be reached at 908-994-5371 or www.trinitas.org