Nosheen Ali|Robert P. Ferguson|Sharmin Mitha|Alexandra L. Hanlon
Do medical trainees feel confident communicating with low health literacy patients?
Temple University|Crozer-Keystone Health System|University of Maryland, Baltimore|Greater Baltimore Medical Center|Crozer-Keystone Health System|University of Pennsylvania
backgroundmedical trainees infrequently use health literacy hl skills overestimate use plain language teach back skills aim study assess level training impacts perception medical trainees around hl knowledge skillsmethodsa structured questionnaire consisting 5 questions assessing respondents perception confidence hl knowledge ability identify communicate low hl patients use relevant resources completed medical students residents 2 communitybased internal medicine programs pennsylvania maryland july 2012 january 2013resultsthe response rate 100 40 pa program 42 17 md residency program rotating medical students 17 completed questionnaire 74 participants less 10 confident hl knowledge ability identify communicate low hl patients 14 1 confident ability identify appropriate resources significant difference communication skills p0305 ability identify appropriate resources p0143 across participants irrespective training level significant improvement hl knowledge observed progression firstyear thirdyear medical school p00126 internship second year residency p00496conclusionmedical trainees perceive receive adequate training hl knowledge skills required feel confident identifying communicating low hl patients identifying appropriate resources need addressing deficiencies via medical school residency curricula