Health Literacy of Older African Americans Residing in Georgia When Seeking Healthcare

Low health literacy is a significant public health challenge (Fleary & Ettienne, 2019). According to Chesser, Woods, Smothers, and Rogers (2016), low health literacy is more prominent in older African Americans. There is direct link between low health literacy and poor health outcomes (Cutilli, Simko, Colbert, & Bennett, 2018). Health behaviors in older African American adults with less than adequate health literacy skills have led to substandard health outcomes (Ingram & Ivanov, 2016). Low literacy skills are associated with increased hospitalizations, medical errors, missed treatments, vaccinations, and increased morbidity and mortality rates (Hadden, 2017). Older African Americans low health literacy stems from years of disconnect and misconstruction in the patient provider relationship (Noonan, Mondragon, & Wagner, 2016). The purpose of this quantitative study is to assess the effectiveness of a communication tool that aims to strengthen older African American patients and the healthcare providers rapport in an effort to improve health literacy. Study participants will include 30 African American patients ages 55-75 selected by convenience sampling. The participants will be asked to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the Institution of Healthcare Improvement /National Patient Safety Foundation’s Ask me 3 survey tool. The Ask me 3 survey tool consists of three questions that provide a guideline to help facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers. When implemented, this tool is a low-cost method that empowers patients to engage in their healthcare and become a part of the healthcare team. By asking three questions pertaining to their health status, patients will gain knowledge of their problem, course of action to address the problem, and the seriousness of managing their illness (Lapiz-Bluhm, Weema, Rendon, & Perez, 2015). Using descriptive statistics, the results will be analyzed, and findings will be examined using Dr. Madeline Leininger’s Cultural Care Diversity and Universality Theory. This study is significant because it will help determine if improved communication between older African Americans and healthcare providers will increase health literacy and improve patient outcomes (Hansen, Hodgson & Gitlin, 2016).