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Developing and pilot testing a comprehensive health literacy communication training for health professionals in three
Marise S Kaper1, Jane Sixsmith2, Jaap A R Koot1
1University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Health Sciences, PO Box 30.001, FA10, 9700 RB Groningen, Netherlands.
Objective:
Skills to address different health literacy problems are lacking among health professionals. We sought to develop and pilot test a comprehensive health literacy communication training for various health professionals in Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands.
Methods:
Thirty health professionals participated in the study. A literature review focused on evidence-informed training-components. Focus group discussions (FGDs) explored perspectives from seventeen professionals on a prototype-program, and feedback from thirteen professionals following pilot-training. Pre-post questionnaires assessed self-rated health literacy communication skills.
Results:
The literature review yielded five training-components to address functional, interactive and critical health literacy: health literacy education, gathering and providing information, shared decision-making, enabling self-management, and supporting behaviour change. In FGDs, professionals endorsed the prototype-program and reported that the pilot-training increased knowledge and patient-centred communication skills in addressing health literacy, as shown by self-rated pre-post questionnaires.
Conclusion:
A comprehensive training for health professionals in three European countries enhances perceived skills to address functional, interactive and critical health literacy.
Practice Implications:
This training has potential for wider application in education and practice in Europe.
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