Effective Communication & Health Literacy in Culturally Safe Care

This presentation and accompanying written document outline the importance of effective communication and health literacy in creating a culturally safe healthcare environment. The presentation, designed for a staff orientation session, defines health literacy and effective communication, emphasizing their influence on culturally safe practices. It highlights strategies for enhancing cultural communication, addressing cultural factors that can lead to poor communication, and the benefits of using interpreters. The content stresses patient empowerment, improved health outcomes, and reduced medical errors through effective communication and health literacy. Key concepts include understanding the interrelation between health literacy and culture, and practical tips for PowerPoint presentations are provided. The presentation is supported by refereed literature and aims to improve patient-provider-family communication and overall care outcomes.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND HEALTH
LITERACY IN A CULTURALLY SAFE HEALTH
CARE ENVIRONMENT
Effective communication has various significance in health
literacy towards creating a surrounding that is culturally safe.
The importance of health literacy in the healthcare setting are;

REDUCTION IN THE INEQUALITIES IN
HEALTHCARE PROVISION
 Mainly occur in areas that relates to the linguistically and
culturally diverse populations.
 Professionals deploy effective communication skills to
addressing cultural differences and limited health literacy
issues.

ENHANCED NAVIGATION OF THE HEALTH STRUCTURE
 The inclusion of the system navigation criterion has proved
to be very effective.
 Health literacy valuation has led to advancement in the
navigation capabilities of the health care system.

INCREASED PATIENT EMPOWERMENT
 Health literacy allows the patients to comprehend and
adhere to the instructions provided for personal care.
 Personal empowerment also allows individuals to plan and
attain the lifestyle changes.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSUMER HEALTH
OUTCOMES
 Enhanced health literacy has led to an upgraded quality of
customer life.
 The level of the provider’s communication and cultural
competence determines the degree to which the care is receptive
to the various communication and cultural needs of the clients.

INCREASED PREVENTION SKILLS TO THE
HEALTH THREATS AND REDUCTION OF
HEALTH RISKS
 This leads to improved consumer’s wellbeing through an
increase in the prevention skills and reduction of the health
threats.
 Understanding the relationship between culture, literacy, and
language has a great advantage towards the health services
improvement practices.

IMPROVED PATIENT SAFETY AND CARE DUE TO
INCREASED EXPOSURE TO RELEVANT MEDICAL
CHOICES
 Health literacy improvement has led to the provision of safe
and quality care to the patients.
 The outcomes that are patient-based comprise of; quality life,
patient satisfaction and adherence to therapeutic information.

CONCLUSION
 Deficient health literacy greatly contributes to the
ethnic/racial as well as health discrepancies through poor
mechanisms of comprehending.
 Therefore, enabling enhanced health literacy and effective
communication, helps in improving the healthcare outcomes.

REFERENCES
• Koh, H. K., Brach, C., Harris, L. M., & Parchman, M. L. (2013). A
proposed ‘health literate care model’would constitute a systems
approach to improving patients’ engagement in care. Health
Affairs, 32(2), 357-367.
• Lambert, M., Luke, J., Downey, B., Crengle, S., Kelaher, M., Reid,
S., & Smylie, J. (2014). Health literacy: health professionals’
understandings and their perceptions of barriers that Indigenous
patients encounter. BMC health services research, 14(1), 614.

REFERENCES CONT’
• Mackert, M., Ball, J., & Lopez, N. (2011). Health literacy
awareness training for healthcare workers: Improving
knowledge and intentions to use clear communication
techniques. Patient education and counseling, 85(3), e225-
e228.
• Nieva, V. F., & Sorra, J. (2013). Safety culture assessment: a
tool for improving patient safety in healthcare
organizations. BMJ Quality & Safety, 12(suppl 2), ii17-ii23.