Health messages on the web

Check out this resource developed by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (NSW) www.cerebralpalsy.org.au

They have developed some resources to help people understand about managing their own health. 

Could you use these resources?
Do you need your fact sheets and information written in Easy English.

Talk to Cathy about how Access Easy English can help you write your resource information in Easy English

Cathy

Cathy Basterfield

0466 579855
cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au

www.accesseasyenglish.com.au

Will patients take their medications?

 A constant question for physicians 

Published in Medscape Medical News, June 05, 2013 by Janis C. Kelly (ref. 1) was a discussion about a research article published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, June 2013 (ref. 3)  regarding this very question.  The headline states “RA: Only 1 in 5 Patients Take Oral Meds as Prescribed.” Further on it states "in summary, we found that adherence to oral DMARDs and steroid therapy in patients with RA was low, ranging from 58% to 71%, with only one-fifth of patients showing ≥80% adherence.

 In the knowledge that at least 44% of adult Australians and a similar percent of adult US citizens has non-functional literacy, this is not surprising. Reading and understanding information on our health literacy is even lower.

Check out how adherence to taking medication barriers for the significant number of people with non functional literacy could be addressed with this example, When and how to take your medication. www.easyhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/When%20and%20how%20to%20take%20your%20medicine.pdf (ref. 2)

Use this example as a basis to personalise the information you provide on when and how to take medications you prescribe to individual patients. 

Email or call Cathy to discuss how you can personalise specific medications or other information you provide to patients. cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au 0466 579 855 (Aus)

 References

1.    Janis C. Kelly, June 05, 2013, RA: Only 1 in 5 Patients Take Oral Meds as Prescribed in Medscape Medical News. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/805352?nlid=31624_1301&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=206251HV  Downloaded 07 June 2013.

2.    Gemma Unwin and Professor Shoumitro Deb, October 2006. When and how to take your medication. University of Birmingham www.easyhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/When%20and%20how%20to%20take%20your%20medicine.pdf Downloaded 07 June 2013

3.    Christian A. Waimann, Maria F. Marengo,Sofia de Achaval,Vanessa L. Cox, Araceli Garcia-Gonzalez, John D. Reveille, Marsha N. Richardson, Maria E. Suarez-Almazor, June 2013. Electronic Monitoring of Oral Therapies in Ethnically Diverse and Economically Disadvantaged Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Consequences of Low Adherence in Arthritis & Rheumatism, Volume 65, Issue 6, pages 1421–1429, Article first published online: 31 MAY 2013. Downloaded 07 June 2013