Good information leads to better health

Health literacy means knowingwhere to find good information about health, then using that information to make decisions.

In theory, it should be easier than ever when almost everyone has a computer in their pocket. But no smartphone is a match for human nature.

People look to their friends and family for information, for example. Or they seek information online and on social media, even if those sources aren't evidence-based. They resist new technologies like online scheduling and health records.

And too often, they nod "yes, I understand" to a nurse, pharmacist, or doctor when nothing could be further from the truth.

"If you don't understand what your provider's telling you, or you don't understand how to gather information, you're often making poorly informed decisions," says Stacey Hust, a professor and health communication expert at Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Some people struggle with health literacy due to limited English skills, or low literacy in general. But even highly educated people are challenged. "In the health field, it almost sounds like we're talking in a different language," says Angela Brittain, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing.

Radha Nandagopal, a pediatrician and associate dean at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, agrees: "The language of medicine and health care can be so inaccessible."

Government and professional organizations recommend health care providers gear their written materials to grade-school reading levels. Most aren't hitting that goal.

WSU Health Sciences colleges recognize the issue. Medical students and medical residents, for example, learn how to use plain language when talking to patients or producing written materials for them. They use a "teach back" communication technique to confirm a patient understands the information they've been given.

"We work with them on emphasizing the most important points and not getting lost in the weeds, overwhelming people," Nandagopal says. "We want to create an environment that is without shame, because patients and families should never feel like they're asking a dumb question."

Another challenge to health literacy: the Internet and social media are awash with health information, much of it low quality, false, or even dangerous.

"That part of it is getting to be the hardest thing for us now," says Megan Undeberg, professor and director of the rural health program at the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. "I tell my patients… if they don't know something and type it into Dr. Google, you can get a million answers, none of which is correct." Artificial intelligence turbocharges that issue.

And while too much information may be one hurdle, health literacy is also endangered by the lack of it. Especially for older patients, the information they need to make decisions about their health is trapped in electronic health records that they struggle to access.

"We have more tools than we've ever had. We may have power in these tools, but how do we use them so we get what we need to support our care? It's a work in progress," says Undeberg.

All of the WSU experts say it's important to find authoritative sources of information online. Brittain suggests, for example, relying on a local public health department's website for information and links, or the renowned Mayo Clinic. Websites with an address ending in .edu (education) or .gov (government) are most likely to have an evidence-based foundation, she says.

Then use that information as the basis for discussions with health care providers, Hust says.

"Part of it is reading trusted and reliable sources of information. The other piece is asking lots of questions and not being afraid to ask those questions," she says. "The provider can be good at communicating but if a patient doesn't know what to ask, they still might not be able to get all the answers that are important to their daily life."

Learn how to evaluate search results and filter search engines at these sites:

MedlinePlus : A website from the NIH National Library of Medicine that has dependable consumer health information, with a tutorial on how to evaluate health information online.

National Institute on Aging: How to Find Reliable Health Information Online

American Medical Association: Finding Reliable Health Information Online (PDF)