The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46687

Lauren Schwartz, MPH¹, Diane Rosenthal², Robert S Hoffman, MD¹, and Maria Mercurio-Zappala, MS, RPh¹. (1) NYC Poison Control Center, 455 First Avenue, Room 123, New York, NY 10016, 212-447-2599, dsa212@nyu.edu, (2) Literacy Partners, Inc, 30 East 33rd Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10016

Concern continues to grow among both health professionals and adult education practitioners regarding the number of individuals lacking the literacy skills necessary to maintain sound health practices. According to the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey, 48% of American adults function at the lowest literacy levels. For older Americans and inner city minority populations, two out of five adults read below the fifth grade level. As a result, many adults are not able to understand health information, including common medication instructions. This often leads to emergency department visits, improperly treated health problems and subsequently, higher costs to the public health care system. In July 2001, the Pfizer Foundation funded The Health Education Literacy Program (HELP), a partnership between the NYC Poison Control Center and Literacy Partners, Inc. The program’s goal is to improve the ability of adults with low literacy levels to understand, administer and take medications safely. The development of the HELP brochures and curriculum were based on information sharing from health and literacy professionals. Steps included audience testing through student-based focus groups, feedback from literacy tutors and refinement of materials from health literacy experts across the country. Samples of the brochures, lessons, and evaluation tools will be showcased. Recommendations for practitioners interested in developing health literacy programs will be provided. HELP demonstrates a successful collaborative effort to provide necessary health information to a population at risk.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to

• Recognize the need for health information written on low literacy levels.
• Describe the process for developing health materials and evaluation instruments appropriate for low literacy populations.
• Discuss the Health Education Literacy Program (HELP) program components.

Keywords: Community Health Programs, Health Literacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.