The greatest mistake is to imagine that we never err. Thomas Carlyle
Many patients and their caregivers fid medical care complex and confusing. This is where health literacy comes into the picture, and its goal is to ensure that patients know what to do, when, how and why.
A common example
Let's say your doctor has prescribed some medication for you and has told you to take 1 pill, twice a day for 2 weeks. You nod in acquiescence and head back home. But you realize that there are a number of questions running through your head:
- * What time should I take the fist pill?
- * How many hours later do I take the second pill?
- * What if I forget to take a pill? Can I then take two pills at once?
- * Should I take my pill before, during, or after meals?
- * Can I take this pill with my other medicine?
Health literacy is the safety shield against errors - How can you use it?
* My doctor said to call if I notice problems. What kinds of problems? * How does this medicine help? Will it make me better? Or keep me from getting worse? This is not an uncommon situation, and health literacy can help make it safer for patients to take their medicines properly. What can you do?
Prepare for your appointment
- Make notes about your symptoms. For instance, you can note things like - "I get a dry mouth about an hour after taking this medicine. My mouth gets so dry that I cannot even eat bread." By being clear and concise, it's easier for your doctor to fiure out what's wrong and suggest what can be done to rectify it.
Make notes during the consultation
- You will be with your doctor for only a short period. It's best to make a list of all the questions or concerns you have and take this list along. Don't forget to carry a pen to jot down notes when the doctor is advising you about something. Once you're back home, refer to these notes; you will fid that you are much more confient about what you are supposed to do. You can also request your doctor's permission to record the consultation.
Let someone accompany you
- Ask a family member or close friend to accompany you to the clinic. This is especially important if you think that the doctor will be talking about upsetting news or giving complicated instructions. The other person can be your auxiliary eyes and ears and he can talk with you later about what was discussed during the consultation.
Ask the doctor questions
- One of the best ways to avoid doubt is to have clarity about what you are supposed to do; and the best way to gain clarity is to ask the doctor questions. Though this seems like a logical solution, the fact is that your mind sort of clams up during appointments, and it becomes diffiult to think of what to ask. Learn to ask your doctor these three standard questions:
- What is my main problem?
- What do I need to do?
- • Why do I need to do it?
Test your understanding
- The doctor may give you a large amount of information and a lot of it may be new, complicated, or confusing. Ensure that there is no fog in your mind before you leave the appointment. A good way to maintain clarity is to ask the doctor something like: "I want to make sure I understand these directions correctly. When you said, "Do , does this mean that I should _?" How can doctors make medical care safer for patients?
Patients need to understand their bodies and what happens when they are ill. This includes learning about basic biology and anatomy. You can help by keeping them informed about what takes place inside their body when they suffer from an acute illness like appendicitis or a chronic condition such as diabetes. Using illustrations, sketching a picture, or demonstrating on an anatomic model makes it easier for patients Patint Safety – Protect Yourself from Medical Errors