Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112180

Ricki Lacy, MS, RN¹, Yadira Ramos², Elisa Friedman, MS², and Lisa M. Montuori, RN, MSN, MPH². (1) Cambridge Health Department, 119 Windsor Street, Ground Level, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-665-3819, rickilacy@hotmail.com, (2) Department of Community Affairs, Cambridge Health Alliance, 230 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143

Reading literacy correlates positively with health status and is an important component of health literacy, the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information necessary for effective disease self-management. Low literacy populations are at risk for adverse health outcomes since they have difficulty accessing medical care, communicating with providers, and following treatment instructions. Low literacy presents particular challenges to public health workers treating patients with tuberculosis (TB). Individuals at highest risk for TB often come from populations that have difficulty accessing and comprehending health information, yet patient participation in treatment is a key factor in controlling the spread of the disease.

To address this issue, Cambridge Health Alliance developed a touchscreen computerized program using MacromediaŽ Authorware to improve office-based patient education in its TB clinic. The program provides a strategy to improve patient knowledge prior to the clinical encounter, enabling patients to better interact with providers about their treatment needs. Program data shows that patients using this TB module were more knowledgeable about TB, seemed better prepared to ask providers questions during visits, and were more likely to say that their educational concerns had been addressed compared to usual practice patients. This presentation will address the process of developing modules for low literacy patients, strategies to integrate technology into clinical practice, and the advantages and challenges of using technology to address barriers to effective patient education.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe factors to consider in providing health education to diverse, low literacy populations.
• List some important capabilities that computer technology offers to address some common barriers to patient education for low literacy populations.
• Describe a planning and evaluation process for developing health education content appropriate to a low literacy, culturally diverse population.
• Discuss the advantages and challenges of using technology in clinical practice to improve patient health literacy.

Keywords: Computer-Assisted, Patient Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Handout (.ppt format,

Handout (.ppt format,