Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper

Popular health information websites (such as the ones noted above) have consumers logging on to acquire health information. Yet, research shows that many of today’s consumers need assistance searching for information as well as understanding and applying it. Lack of technological expertise, low levels of health literacy, and an inability to distinguish relevant facts are just some of the documented challenges.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper

As you work through this Discussion, keep in mind that health literacy does not merely imply access to information, but also the capacity to process that information to make informed decisions. In this Discussion, be sure to conceptualize nursing’s roles and responsibilities in assisting patients with web-based information.

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To prepare:

With the information from the Learning Resources in mind, consider the amount and types of health information available to consumers online.
Reflect on the patients you have encountered in your practice, and consider their health literacy and use of online information.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper
Evaluate strategies you could use to educate and assist your patients to appropriately use health information found on the web.

By Day 3 post a cohesive response that addresses the following:

Synthesize your previous experiences with consumer health literacy in your practice setting.
Formulate strategies that you could use to assist patients in interpreting and applying online health information going forward. Include strategies for those patients that overuse medical websites or regularly misinterpret medical information found online.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 6 respond to at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper
Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources.

Click on the Reply button below to post your response.

NURS 8210 Week 8: Consumer Health Informatics Discussion

Among the many changes that technology has brought to health care, one of the most important relates to the evolving role of the patient.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper Today, many patients use online resources to educate themselves and manage their health decisions. As a group, they are known as “the informed patient.” These individuals may play a more active part in their own care than patients typically have in years past. As this population of information seekers continues to grow, the health care field will need to develop strategies to facilitate health literacy.

This week, you examine how this phenomenon is affecting nursing practice, and consider how you might be able to assist consumers in accessing, understanding, and applying online health information.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to attain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions promoting health and disease prevention to maintain and improve quality of life. “Health literacy is increasingly recognized as a critical part of improving health care quality, increasing the effectiveness of consumers’ health purchasing decisions, and strengthening consumers’ management of their own health” (Sorensen et al., 2012, p.1). Low literacy has serious consequences for patient’s health and health care organizations. Patients and families sometimes have a very difficult time understanding verbal or written instructions from their health care providers.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper In order to be compliant with following healthcare professionals directions to successfully navigate the health system to obtain needed care a high degree of health literacy is needed. In my current position I work for a nurse triage/advise line providing patients with guidance on how to use healthcare appropriately. My role is to educate patients on their health, treatment options, and available resources allowing them to make informed healthcare decisions. At the nurse advice line we guide patients to the appropriate level of care, anytime, day or night. Many of the patients who utilize the nurse advice line enjoy looking up their symptoms on the Internet and then calling the nurse line to confirm that they do not have a life threatening illness. The biggest component of our job is to educate patients on utilizing approved and reliable websites such as WebMD or Mayo clinic when researching health topics.Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper

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Strategies that you could use to assist patients in interpreting and applying online health information

As health care has moved to a patient-centered care approach, patient education must be tailored to meet persons’ individual needs to promote and improve health literacy.  Many patients including the older generation have low health literacy skills, and have difficulty with reading, writing, communication, and the use of electronic technology, which impede access to and understanding of health care information (Pak, Price, & Thatcher, 2009). The use of the Internet is very popular among users searching for health related topics. Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper Many healthcare providers perceive Internet health information as problematic as they feel it generates patient misinformation and an inclination towards detrimental self-diagnosis (Laugesen, Hassanein,  & Yuan, 2015). Strategies include training the public about internet usage for their healthcare needs and have suggested courses for health care professionals with the intention to disseminate skills such as conducting searches, assessing website quality, and using the relevant information to educate their patients. Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper Another strategy would be to develop workshops or courses to train staff members to assess Internet sources for accuracy, bias, and usability to enable them to teach patients to utilize the Internet effectively to better enhance their care. High levels of health literacy are associated with better patient self-care and outcomes. Using online health information resources can improve health literacy by helping patients understand and engage in their care to foster better health outcomes (Keselman, Logan, Smith, Leroy,  & Zeng-Treitler, 2008). Consumer Health Informatics Assignment Paper