Introduction:
The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) 2004 report on Health Literacy - a Prescription to End Confusion confirms that nearly half of all American adults have difficulty understanding and using health information. The IOM Report accepts the Healthy People 2010 definition of health literacy: the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
Literacy levels are lowest among the elderly, those who are poor, minority populations, and groups with limited English proficiency. There is considerable overlap between limited literacy populations and those described in The Institute of Medicine's 2004 report on Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health. It is impossible to deal with culture and language without taking literacy into consideration.
Background:
In December of 2002, the first of a series of symposia, entitled "System Change for Better Health Communication: A Symposium for Policy Makers", was convened by Rosales Communications, the Health Promotion Council, Inc. and J O Frempong & Associates, established practitioners in the field of health literacy and cross cultural communications.
Symposium 2005:
On April 15, 2005, Plain Language and Culture, Inc. (PLC) with J O Frempong & Associates, Furnas Consulting and the Health Promotion Council, Inc., are holding a one-day symposium to explore the issue of cross cultural and inter-language health literacy.
The immediate aim will be to generate discussion and begin to develop an agenda for multi-institutional change. The ultimate aim, however, is to help reduce health disparities associated with less than effective health communication.
For more information contact:
Phone: 215-849-0545 - Fax: 215-849-1601
Coordinating office:
Rosales Communications
510 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119
www.rosalesc.com
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