Session Information
Session Title: Clinical Practice/Patient Care
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ARHP)
Background/Purpose:
Research supports that health disparities exist between those with limited versus adequate literacy skills. Limited health literacy is associated with medication errors, increased healthcare costs, and inadequate care for chronic health conditions. In 2010, our team developed and tested a Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (HLUPTK) for use in primary care practices. Studies in rheumatology have demonstrated a significant number of patients have low literacy. The purpose of this project was to adapt the HLUPTK for use in rheumatology practices (HLUPTK-R).
Methods:
We reviewed the HLUPTK and its 20 tools to determine areas for adaptation, expansion and discipline specific customization. An environmental scan was conducted to identify and assess existing health literacy tools, resources and well-designed education materials for use in the rheumatology setting. Gaps in rheumatology specific materials were also identified. A discipline specific toolkit was developed and tested in 4 rheumatology practices of various size and locations (urban vs. rural). A study team member visited all practices prior to testing. Over the 2-month testing period, practice staff reviewed the toolkit, conducted a health literacy assessment, and selected and tested a small-scale implementation of 2 or more tools. Practices completed questionnaires and participated in conference calls with the study team pre- and post- testing. They also completed Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) worksheets for tested tools. Based on practice feedback and the testing results, the toolkit was revised.
Results:
A new toolkit, HLUPTK-R, has been developed. Rheumatology specific resources have been added including a teachback video focusing on a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatology-specific plain language guide, medication aides and education materials designed for rheumatic diseases. Based on feedback from the practices, the tools were shortened and reformatted. In addition, 2 new tools were developed and included: one for communicating care to other physicians and another for planning small changes in the practice setting. Furthermore based on key changes adopted by our practices, two new Quick Start guides were developed – one focused on patient encounters and the other on the practice setting. The Quick Start guides are designed to introduce the practice to the concepts of health literacy and making small changes without the need for coaching that the more comprehensive HLUPTK-R appears to require.
Conclusion: This new toolkit offers clinicians and staff in rheumatology practices a step-by-step approach to improving healthcare for patients of all literacy levels using discipline specific examples and tools. HLUPTK-R and quick start guides are now available for broader use and testing.
Disclosure:
L. F. Callahan,
None;
V. Hawk,
None;
K. A. Broucksou,
None;
B. Hackney,
None;
D. MacDonald,
None;
L. Penny Prizer,
None;
B. L. Jonas,
None;
T. K. Bauer,
None;
R. E. Rudd,
None;
C. Brach,
None;
D. Dewalt,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/developing-a-health-literacy-universal-precautions-toolkit-for-rheumatology/