Health literacy competency requirements for health professionals: a Delphi consensus study in Taiwan

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Health Literacy Research
• Medical Communication

Background:

• Health literacy significantly impacts healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
• Need for evidence-based guidelines to train health professionals in health literacy.
• Addressing patient health literacy barriers is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate and refine health literacy competencies for health professionals.
• To prioritize essential health literacy practices in clinical settings.
• To inform the development of health professional training curricula.

Main Methods:

• A modified three-round Delphi process involving 20 Taiwanese health literacy experts.
• Consensus-building approach utilizing an online expert panel.
• Cross-cultural translation of existing health literacy competencies.

Main Results:

• Consensus reached on 42 of 62 health literacy competencies (knowledge, attitude, skills).
• Top prioritized practices include avoiding medical jargon, speaking clearly, and using analogies.
• Agreement on 12 knowledge, 9 attitude, and 21 skill competencies.

Conclusions:

• Identified core health literacy competencies can guide curriculum development for health professionals.
• Prioritized practices serve as indicators for health literacy training and clinical application.
• The study provides a framework for enhancing health professionals' health literacy skills.