AHRQ Pharmacy Health Literacy Center

AHRQ Pharmacy Health Literacy Center
This site provides pharmacists with recently-released health literacy tools and other resources and assistance from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). These include:

1. Four health literacy tools for pharmacy.
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=748

2. Resources for pharmacists interested in understanding more about health literacy.
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=741

3. Discussion Group for pharmacists to exchange ideas and experiences with peers about health literacy challenges.
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=743

What is Pharmacy Health Literacy?
Pharmacy health literacy is the degree to which individuals are able to obtain, process, and understand basic health and medication information and pharmacy services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

^Only 12% of adults have proficient health literacy (e.g., can interpret the prescription label correctly)

^Medication errors are likely higher with patients with limited health literacy, as they are more likely to mis-interpret the prescription label information and auxiliary labels

^Studies document an association between low literacy and poor health outcomes

Why is Health Literacy Important to Pharmacy?
º Pharmacists are responsible for making sure patients obtain the maximum positive health outcomes from their medications
ºº Pharmacists care for patients with low to high education levels, low to high incomes, and multiple races of people; all of whom may have limited health literacy
ººº Medication errors are likely higher with patients with limited health literacy
ºººº Studies document an association between low literacy and poor health outcomes
ººººº Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care providers
ºººººº Addressing literacy is an important quality improvement effort


AHRQ Health Literacy Tools for Use in Pharmacies
Recognizing that pharmacies may need additional knowledge and assistance to improve their health literacy practices, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed four new health literacy tools for pharmacy:
► Pharmacy Health Literacy Assessment Tool & User's Guide
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=748#Tool

►► Training Program for Pharmacy Staff on Communication
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=748#Training

►►► Guide on How To Create a Pill Card
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=748#Pillcard

►►►► Telephone Reminder Tool To Help Refill Medicines On Time
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/Sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/Default.aspx?pid=748#Refill

Want to learn more about these tools? Go to: AHRQ Tools
http://pharmacyhealthliteracy.ahrq.gov/sites/PharmHealthLiteracy/default.aspx