The higher a person’s literacy and numeracy skills are, the higher they are likely to rate their perceived health outcomes. While literacy describes an individual’s ability to read and use written words to navigate society, health literacy is about more than an individual’s skills. Health literacy is a community undertaking. It includes the patient understanding and acting on information as well as health providers and institutions communicating effectively so that everyone at any skill level can understand and access health care and information.
When providers aren’t able to communicate effectively with patients who have low English language skills, such as refugees and immigrants, these newcomers face barriers to health care access, resulting in health inequity.
Researchers Lindsay McHolme and Iris Feinberg of Georgia State University conducted a study to understand how culturally and linguistically tailored health education can transform lives. The results, published in our recent Adult Literacy Education research journal, are both inspiring and practical, offering a roadmap for health practitioners, adult educators, and community organizations alike.
For background, the study disseminated health education videos about diabetes in Burmese, Dari, Pashto, and Spanish to see how culturally sensitive information provided in a person’s home language impacted understanding, action, and confidence in navigating health care.
What they found was that participants overwhelmingly understood what they were learning in the videos and could apply the information. Importantly, 100% said they felt more confident asking their doctor questions after watching. Additionally, seeing their languages and cultural practices engaged them more, and participants were excited to share the videos with friends and family.
The results suggest expanding language access within health care systems and providing access to health literacy instruction, where adult education programs can play an important role. These include:
1. Co-Design with the Community: Involve community members, interpreters, and cultural leaders in creating and reviewing materials. Use their insights to ensure medical accuracy and cultural resonance.
2. Focus on Understandability and Actionability: Use plain language, clear visuals, and step-by-step instructions.
3. Support Multilingual Communication: Provide content in home languages, but include key health terms in English too—helping patients prepare for real-world interactions with doctors.
4. Respect Cultural Practices: Tailor messages to honor cultural norms and religious observances. For example, explain how to manage blood sugar during fasting or holiday feasts.
5. Leverage Trusted Dissemination Channels
Distribute materials via community clinics, religious centers, social media, and messaging platforms. Use home language keywords and QR codes for easy access.
6. Extend through Adult Education: Integrate home language health content into ESL and adult education curricula. Encourage learners to build understanding in their own language before shifting to English vocabulary and dialog practice.
The research study focuses on how health literacy experts, educators, and communities can work together to build health equity for refugees and immigrants.