| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | COVER ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||
Dr. Davis is Professor, Medicine and Pediatrics, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA.
Dr. Williams is Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of the Hospital Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Ms. Marin is Research Associate, Health Education and Literacy, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, LA.
Dr. Parker is Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Glass is Director, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center and Professor, Medicine and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, LA.
Health literacy is increasingly recognized as a critical factor affecting communication across the continuum of cancer care. We reviewed research on health literacy and examined its impact on cancer outcomes and communication.
According to the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), considered the most accurate portrait of literacy in our society, about one in five American adults may lack the necessary literacy skills to function adequately in our society. As patients, such individuals are at a disadvantage in their capacity to obtain, process, and understand cancer information and services needed to make appropriate health care decisions.
Patients with poor health literacy have a complex array of difficulties with written and oral communication that may limit their understanding of cancer screening and of symptoms of cancer, adversely affecting their stage at diagnosis. In addition, these barriers impair communication and discussion about risks and benefits of treatment options, and patient understanding of informed consent for routine procedures and clinical trials. More research is needed to identify successful methods for educating and communicating with patients who have limited health literacy. Based on our own experience, we offer practical communication aids that can help bridge the cancer communication gap.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. J. Greenstein, V. R. Litle, S. J. Swanson, C. M. Divino, S. Packer, T. G. McGinn, and J. P. Wisnivesky Racial Disparities in Esophageal Cancer Treatment and Outcomes Ann. Surg. Oncol., March 1, 2008; 15(3): 881 - 888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. A. Jones, K. Reams, L. Calvocoressi, A. Dailey, S. V. Kasl, and N. M. Liston Adequacy of Communicating Results From Screening Mammograms to African American and White Women Am J Public Health, March 1, 2007; 97(3): 531 - 538. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Mills and A. Schneider The Office of the National Nurse: Leadership for a New Era of Prevention Policy Politics Nursing Practice, February 1, 2007; 8(1): 64 - 70. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. P. Tanjasiri, M. Kagawa-Singer, M. A. Foo, M. Chao, I. Linayao-Putman, J. Nguyen, G. Pirumyan, and A. Valdez Designing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Interventions: The "Life Is Precious" Hmong Breast Cancer Study Health Educ Behav, February 1, 2007; 34(1): 140 - 153. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. K. Powell, E. G. Hill, and D. E. Clancy The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge and Readiness to Take Health Actions The Diabetes Educator, January 1, 2007; 33(1): 144 - 151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. B. Friedman and L. Hoffman-Goetz A Systematic Review of Readability and Comprehension Instruments Used for Print and Web-Based Cancer Information Health Educ Behav, June 1, 2006; 33(3): 352 - 373. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. C. Davis, S. G. Humiston, C. L. Arnold, J. A. Bocchini Jr, P. F. Bass III, E. M. Kennen, A. Bocchini, D. Williams, P. Kyler, and M. Lloyd-Puryear Recommendations for Effective Newborn Screening Communication: Results of Focus Groups With Parents, Providers, and Experts Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5/S1): S326 - S340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. L. Arnold, T. C. Davis, S. G. Humiston, J. A. Bocchini Jr, P. F. Bass III, A. Bocchini, E. M. Kennen, K. White, and I. Forsman Infant Hearing Screening: Stakeholder Recommendations for Parent-Centered Communication Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5/S1): S341 - S354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. L. Kreps Communication and Racial Inequities in Health Care American Behavioral Scientist, February 1, 2006; 49(6): 760 - 774. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. M. Reisfield, G. D. Paulian, and G. R. Wilson "Johnny can't read": Another cause " of failed analgesia American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, November 1, 2005; 22(6): 433 - 436. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Nekhlyudov, M. Bower, L. J. Herrinton, A. Altschuler, S. M. Greene, S. Rolnick, J. G. Elmore, E. L. Harris, A. Liu, K. M. Emmons, et al. Women's Decision-Making Roles Regarding Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy J Natl Cancer Inst Monographs, November 1, 2005; 2005(35): 55 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. R. Ferreira, N. C. Dolan, M. L. Fitzgibbon, T. C. Davis, N. Gorby, L. Ladewski, D. Liu, A. W. Rademaker, F. Medio, B. P. Schmitt, et al. Health Care Provider-Directed Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Veterans: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial J. Clin. Oncol., March 1, 2005; 23(7): 1548 - 1554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Anhang, A. Goodman, and S. J. Goldie HPV Communication: Review of Existing Research and Recommendations for Patient Education CA Cancer J Clin, September 1, 2004; 54(5): 248 - 259. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. C. Dolan, M. R. Ferreira, T. C. Davis, M. L. Fitzgibbon, A. Rademaker, D. Liu, B. P. Schmitt, N. Gorby, M. Wolf, and C. L. Bennett Colorectal Cancer Screening Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Among Veterans: Does Literacy Make a Difference? J. Clin. Oncol., July 1, 2004; 22(13): 2617 - 2622. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Merriman, T. Ades, and J. R. Seffrin Health Literacy in the Information Age: Communicating Cancer Information to Patients and Families CA Cancer J Clin, May 1, 2002; 52(3): 130 - 133. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | COVER ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
