Patient literacy, or health literacy, is an essential but often overlooked aspect of healthcare. Defined as an individual’s ability to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services, it directly influences a patient’s ability to make informed decisions about their care. In oncology, where treatment plans are complex and long-term, patient literacy becomes even more critical. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of Americans are equipped with adequate health literacy, resulting in poorer outcomes and increased costs. Oncology nurses, who are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap, need better support and resources to fulfil this vital role.
The Central Role of Oncology Nurses
Oncology nurses play a unique and ongoing role in the lives of cancer patients. Unlike many other medical professionals, oncology nurses maintain regular, prolonged contact with patients, often forming deep emotional connections. This relationship naturally lends itself to opportunities for promoting patient literacy. The trust and familiarity that nurses build with patients can lead to greater openness and understanding, making it easier for patients to grasp the complexities of their diagnosis, treatment options and care pathways.
However, nurses face significant barriers when it comes to advancing patient literacy. Despite their clinical expertise, many are not trained to assess a patient's health literacy level or may unintentionally overestimate it. A major challenge lies in identifying and adjusting for the literacy capabilities of each patient. Moreover, the lack of cultural competence further complicates communication. Nurses frequently work with diverse populations, including individuals with limited English proficiency. Without adequate training in cultural sensitivity and communication strategies, many nurses struggle to adapt their explanations to patients’ varied linguistic and cultural backgrounds. These gaps hinder their ability to ensure that all patients, regardless of background, fully understand their care plans.
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Strategies for Support and Improvement
Addressing these barriers begins with changes in nurse training. Currently, nursing education often overlooks patient literacy. Yet, incorporating a small amount of targeted content, such as a single course or even a few dedicated hours, can substantially increase nurses' competence in promoting health literacy. Such training can focus on assessing literacy levels, recognising subtle cues from patients and tailoring communication accordingly. For oncology nurses, this knowledge is particularly valuable given the emotional and cognitive load that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
Nonetheless, enhancing patient literacy should not be the sole responsibility of nurses. The emotional toll of oncology care, coupled with already high workloads, can lead to burnout. A more holistic approach involves engaging the entire healthcare team, including physicians and administrative staff. Training interventions for all staff members have shown promising results in raising awareness and improving patient communication. Additionally, institutions can adopt patient navigation programmes, where trained professionals help patients understand their diagnoses, treatment processes and care options. These navigators can complement the work of nurses, ensuring that patients receive consistent and accessible information throughout their care journey.
Technology also offers promising solutions. While concerns around accuracy remain, advancements in AI have the potential to assist in patient literacy. For instance, AI tools could help assess a patient's understanding and provide basic, easily digestible information about their condition and treatment. Such tools are not a replacement for human interaction but can supplement the efforts of healthcare professionals. Hospitals might also consider simple measures like creating informational television channels or producing visual aids to reinforce verbal instructions. By adopting a universal precautions approach—using clear, non-technical language and relying on visual materials—healthcare organisations can ensure that all patients benefit from improved communication, regardless of their baseline literacy.
Reaping the Rewards of Investment
Improving patient literacy requires initial investment but yields significant long-term benefits. By equipping oncology nurses with the right tools and sharing the responsibility across the healthcare team, organisations can achieve better treatment adherence, higher patient satisfaction and reduced healthcare costs. The strategies needed—such as training workshops, cultural competence development and accessible educational materials—are relatively low-cost yet highly effective. Furthermore, using a standardised approach to communication that assumes all patients may struggle with medical terminology helps to create a more inclusive and supportive care environment.
As cancer care continues to grow in complexity, the need for clear, accessible patient education becomes more pressing. Oncology nurses are already at the frontline of patient interaction, and with appropriate support, they can be even more effective in fostering understanding and empowering patients. At the same time, healthcare leaders must recognise that sustaining high levels of health literacy is a shared institutional responsibility.
Maintaining low levels of patient literacy is not only unsustainable but also detrimental to patients and healthcare systems alike. Oncology nurses hold a pivotal role in improving patient understanding, yet they need structured support to fulfil this responsibility. Integrating health literacy into nurse education, promoting cultural competence, distributing the responsibility across healthcare teams and leveraging emerging technologies are all viable ways to uplift patient literacy. Ultimately, prioritising this area is an investment in better care, lower costs and improved patient outcomes. Empowering nurses, alongside wider institutional efforts, is the key to turning the tide on this critical healthcare challenge.
Source: MedCity News
Image Credit: iStock
