The task of "navigating" institutions for what we may consider mundane health maintenance tasks are complicated for people with limited literacy skills. For a brief case example, we examined the various barriers that an adult with limited literacy skills may face in his or her efforts to follow recommendations for good oral health. Our focus is on Healthy People 2010 Objective 21-2d in the Oral Health chapter. This objective states: reduce the proportion of adults with untreated dental decay. We present a 'literacy assessment' of those activities an adult may have to undertake before he or she appears in a dentist's office for treatment of dental decay. We examine issues related to prevention, including access to information about topics such as fluoridation as well as access issues related to regular check-ups to catch early decay and access to dental treatment. We delineate steps involved in the process and assess written materials, documents, and needed verbal encounters that accompany each step. This assessment offers insight into the link between literacy and health.
Learning Objectives: Describe what a literacy assessment is in connection with achieving one of the oral health objectives in HP2010
Keywords: Oral Health, Literacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.