The value of providing equitable patient education through the evaluation of health literacy

Health literacy is a critical determinant of health outcomes, influencing patient engagement, health care costs, and readmission rates. Despite its importance, many hospitals lack standardized tools to assess health literacy, leading to inadequate patient education, especially among vulnerable populations. This study evaluates the impact of implementing the BRIEF Health Literacy Assessment Tool in an inpatient setting to improve nurses' ability to identify low health literacy and tailor patient education accordingly.

Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory (SCDNT) underpins this study, emphasizing the importance of assessing patients' ability to understand and manage their health. A quantitative correlational design was used. Nurses on a medical-surgical unit administered the BRIEF Health Literacy Assessment Tool to patients upon admission. Patients identified with low health literacy received supplemental education. Data on patient outcomes (length of stay, 7-day and 30-day readmission rates) and nurse feedback were collected and analyzed. Of the 40 patients assessed, 37.5% were identified with low health literacy. No significant differences were found in patient outcomes. However, nurses reported the tool as valuable and feasible, enhancing their ability to provide equitable patient education. While the tool is valuable to nursing, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to evaluate its impact on patient outcomes.

This study suggests that integrating such tools into nursing practice can enhance care quality and equity. Future research should involve larger sample sizes, multiple units, and longer implementation periods to better understand the impact of health literacy assessments on patient outcomes.