NURS 610 Assignment 8.1 Minimizing Barriers for Low-Literacy Patients: Summary

Minimizing Barriers for Low-Literacy Patients: Summary

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Analysis of Risk Factors

1. List three risk factors Doris has for liver?

Heavy drinking (two to three drinks of wine more than once a week) 2. IV drug history (in her 20s) 3. Physical examination findings which may indicate liver disease (spider angiomas, jaundice and a large liver)

2. How is her drinking affecting her liver?

Direct liver damage secondary to drinking is likely to have an impact on Doris in her laboratory findings and symptoms. AST and ALT are elevated implying that there is cellular destruction and death of liver cells. In addition, such physical symptoms as jaundice (skin color is yellow), spider angiomas, and enlarged liver are all typical of alcohol-related liver disease as well. She also mentions her feeling of tiredness and loss of appetite, which are common symptoms when the liver begins to malfunction.

3. Would you be concerned with Tylenol use? Explain your answer?

Yes, you ought to be worried. The excessive drinking habit subjects Doris to greater susceptibility to her liver. Alcohol is also known to deplete glutathione which is among the substances that the liver will need in order to properly manage Tylenol. This greatly predisposes her to liver damage due to Tylenol, even when used in normal doses.

4. What activity increased her chance of having hepatitis C?

The fact that she used IV drugs during her 20s made her very vulnerable to Hepatitis C. This is one of the main ways of virus transmission.

Health Literacy Overview

1. What are three ways you can assess Doris for health literacy?

Apply Teach-Back Method: Have her describe her conditions or medications in her own words to determine whether she can remember and comprehend instructions. Ask a Screening Question: Ask a simple, non-judgment question, such as, How sure are you when you complete medical forms on your own? Look for Clues: Pay attention to whether she carries the completed forms, has clarifying questions or is able to name her medications and their purpose appropriately.

2. What is one technique you can use to educate Doris?

One of the effective methods is the “Teach-Back” method. After you have told Doris something you would ask her to put it in her language to you. This would assist in checking her out prior to her going, as well as the chance of you clearing up any misconception immediately.

3. List one resource you can use to enhance health literacy with Doris.

The former is to provide her with educational materials that she can easily read, like those of a trusted avenue, like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the American Heart Association. These materials are in simple language and simple images and formats are used to enhance understanding.

Health Literacy Application

1. Based on the physical examination and lab results of Doris, you are suspicious of end-stage liver disease. In simple terms, explain to Doris what is going on with her liver and why additional tests are required. Write a brief conversation between you and Doris.

You: Doris, according to our talk and the exam we had today, I have some concerns about your liver, the tests show that it is not doing well. Doris: “Struggling? What do you mean?” You: “Think of your liver as a filter for your body. With time, due to reasons such as alcohol, such a filter may get scarred and damaged. Your puffy legs, the fatigue and the yellowish color of your skin all indicate that your liver is not doing its job of cleaning your blood as it is supposed to. Doris: “Oh, my. Is it serious?” You: It is grave, and this is why we must know perfectly what is going on. To do

2. that, I will have to request further specific tests. These will inform us how badly the damage has been done, and will assist us in making a plan to do the best care possible of you. And would that be all right?

With the Word calculator, check your conversation with the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, which should not be more than the 6 th grade reading level. Continue to rewrite your work until you get a 6 th -grade level score. Enter your own answers, as well as your rewritten ones.

You: After our conversation, and the results of your exam, I worry about your liver, Doris. It is not functioning well, as the test results indicate. Doris: Not acting well? What does that imply? You: “Consider your liver to be the cleaning crew in your body. In the long run, it can be damaged by such things as alcohol. It becomes scarred, and is unable to do its work. Your legs are swollen, and you feel so fatigued, and your skin is yellow–it means your liver is not clearing your blood. Doris: “Oh, my. Is this bad?” You: It is a big affair. That is the reason why we have to learn more. We should carry out some additional tests. These examinations will indicate the extent to which your liver is damaged. Then we will be able to plan how to make you feel better. Is that alright with you?

3. What did you learn from reviewing the text difficulty?

I learned that simplification of language results in a tremendous decrease in level of reading. Less lengthy sentences, simpler words instead of challenging words (such as filter being replaced with the term cleanup crew), and a mere rephrasing of the wording can all help to make critical health information available to a much larger audience.

Check for Understanding

1. How will you know whether Doris understands what you tell her?

I will utilize such a methodology as Teach-Back. I will then ask Doris to paraphrase the information to me. Provided that she will be able to identify the main points right, i.e. why her liver is not functioning well and why she requires further testing, I will be sure that she understands. In case of her inability, I will realize that I will have to tell it in an additional manner.

2. What is a negative consequence for Doris if she does not understand?

This may cause her state to deteriorate at a very high rate, causing severe complications such as internal bleeding, severe confusion, or liver failure.

3. What is a positive outcome if you increase her health literacy?

It has a beneficial outcome because Doris is able to make informed decisions e.g. about alcohol and follow up tests. Having such active engagement in her treatment, it is possible to postpone the appearance of the disease, regulate her symptoms and significantly improve the quality of her life.