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Health Literacy of Patient Medication Information Materials
No full textBackground: Health literacy is an important factor that affects comprehension of health information and subsequent health outcomes. Current recommendations suggest that health information should be written at a 4th to 6th grade reading level. There is limited research on the readability of health information, especially when considering information that focuses on medications specifically.
Methods: This study focused on common websites and patient handouts for the top six cardiovascular medications and assessed the readability of these information sources to determine the extent to which they meet current health literacy recommendations. Websites and patient handouts included both free and subscription-based services. General and readability statistics were collected using a readability calculator on textcompare.org for over 70 web pages and patient handouts within 10 websites and subscription-based services. Each individual statistic was averaged to determine overall scores for each website and subscription-based service. The statistics assessed included 10 readability scales, 10 general statistics, and an overall grade level standard. Additionally, an average JAMA benchmark score was calculated for each website and subscription-based service.
Results: Websites and subscription-based services were written at grade levels ranging from 6th grade to that of a professional (higher than a college graduate). No website or subscription-based service was written at a level lower than 6th grade. Of the websites and subscription-based services assessed, only 1 subscription-based service met health literacy recommendations in 6 of 10 readability scales. One website scored a 4 out of 4 when applying the JAMA benchmark. Individual general statistics did not seem to correlate with the grade levels assigned by each readability scale. However, general statistics considered in aggregate have a correlation due to many of the readability scales accounting for multiple statistical factors within a text.
Conclusion: Current medication information sources are not generally written at a grade level compliant with health literacy recommendations. Most sources do not meet the requirements of the JAMA benchmark. The appropriateness of medication information should be assessed prior to providing it to patients or the public and efforts should be made to ensure that such materials meet health literacy recommendations
The Effect of Wildfires on Human Health
Get PDFOn average, 70,000 wildfires occur each year in the United States (US). Given the rise in the frequency and severity of wildfire destruction observed in recent decades, it is crucial for US healthcare providers to be aware of the risks associated with wildfire smoke exposure. The majority of fire deaths are caused by inhalation of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), including carbon monoxide (CO) and cyanide (CN), which can debilitate victims and impair their ability to successfully escape the flames. Research indicates that an increased number of visits to the emergency department, occurring two to three days after a wildfire incident, were due to cardiovascular (CV) complications, including arrhythmias and heart failure. There is an association between wildfire smoke exposure and high risk of preterm birth during the second trimester of pregnancy. For individuals with chronic lung conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it was found that smoke exposure for a duration exceeding five days can lead to acute exacerbations. Preventative measures, such as masking and avoidance of the smoke, can lower risk of health complications due to smoke inhalation. Even when used or executed properly, these preventative measures are not able to provide complete protection from detrimental effects of wildfire smoke. Healthcare providers should be properly educated on the effects of wildfires on respiratory, cardiovascular, and reproductive health, as well as the treatment and symptom management of smoke inhalation patients
Berberine - A Natural Supplement Review
Get PDFBerberine (BBR) is a chemical found in plants that has been used in medicine for generations across many cultures. Early uses of BBR included maladies such as colds, infections, and jaundice. As technology and understanding have progressed, BBR has been developed into oral formulations to promote better absorption and is being evaluated for use in various disease states. Due to its actions as a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, BBR is being evaluated for its potential use in the management of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. Multiple studies support claims of BBR’s lipid-lowering effects, with stronger evidence when given concurrently with statin therapy. Also, BBR has been shown to help with lowering blood glucose and inflammation, which has led to its evaluation for use in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) either as monotherapy or in combination with metformin
Prolonged GPS Surveillance and the Fourth Amendment:A Critical Analysis of the D.C. Circuit’s “the-whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts” Approach in United States v. Maynard
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