Literacy in the health professions today

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Healthcare Communication
• Public Health Literacy

Background:

• Modern healthcare demands diverse skills beyond clinical expertise.
• Effective patient-provider communication is crucial for health outcomes.
• Navigating complex health systems requires specific knowledge and abilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define essential literacies for healthcare stakeholders.
• To provide examples illustrating each type of literacy.
• To suggest practical methods for fostering these literacies in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing frameworks on literacies.
• Categorization of literacies into five key spheres.
• Development of practical workplace-based promotion strategies.

Main Results:

• Identified five critical spheres of literacy: clinical, information, functional, navigation, and communication.
• Provided concrete examples for each literacy type.
• Outlined actionable recommendations for workplace implementation.

Conclusions:

• Possessing multiple literacies is fundamental for effective functioning in contemporary healthcare.
• Promoting these literacies can enhance healthcare delivery and patient engagement.
• A multi-faceted approach to literacy development is necessary for the health workforce and patient populations.