Promote health literacy: “Three questions for your health”

30.05.2018 13:53

The Hamburg health network “Health for Billstedt/Horn” wants to improve the health literacy of patients with a campaign in doctors’ practices. Multilingual posters and flyers on the topic “Three questions for your health” inform patients about how they can best prepare for their doctor’s visit. The aim is to promote understanding of medical information in doctor-patient discussions and adherence to therapy. The campaign, which is based on the internationally proven “Ask me three” concept, is one of the interventions by the management company Gesundheit für Billstedt/Horn UG, which, together with doctors, health insurance companies and other partners, implements a population-oriented and health-promoting care model in the deprived Hamburg districts of Billstedt and Horn .

Current studies show how many people have problems understanding and using health-related information. People of older age, with language barriers or low educational status are particularly affected. Factors such as nervousness or uncertainty when talking to the doctor can also have a negative impact on communication. “This is where we start and explain to people in a simple way how they can prepare for the conversation with their doctor and which three questions they should definitely ask. We encourage them to ask questions if they don’t understand something and to note down the doctor’s answers,” explains Dr. Oana Gröne, responsible for patient activation in health for Billstedt/Horn UG.

The participating doctor's practices receive individualized practice posters, flyers with a note field and a button for the doctor's coat. There are three questions: “What health problem do I have?”, “What can I do about it?” and “Why is this important to me?”. The general practitioner Dr. Tanja Bockshammer from the Mümmelmannsberg district has already had good experiences: “Many of my patients take up the suggestion, they are braver and follow up when they need clarification.” As a result, the conversations are not longer, but much more structured, she emphasizes. In order to measure the effect scientifically, the campaign is being evaluated by the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) at the University of Hamburg.

The “Ask me three” concept has already achieved good success in other countries, as studies show.1,2 Patients are better informed, more self-confident and more competent in their interaction with doctors and the practice team, while the duration of doctor's visits has not increased has.

In addition to the practice campaign, Gesundheit für Billstedt/Horn UG implements other interventions to activate patients and promote health literacy, such as goal-setting discussions between patients and doctors. The health network is funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee.

Literature:

1. Groene, OR, Bolibar, I., Brotons, C. (2012). Impact, barriers and facilitators of the 'Ask Me 3' Patient Communication Intervention in a primary care center in Barcelona, Spain: a mixed-methods analysis. The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine 2 (4) 853-861.

2. Michalopoulou, G., Falzarano, P., Arfken, C. & Rosenberg, D. (2010). Implementing Ask Me 3 to improve African American patient satisfaction and perceptions of physician cultural competency. Journal of Cultural Diversity 17 (2) 62-67.

Picture: Sample poster from the Hamburg campaign “Three Questions for Your Health”. Image source: Health for Billstedt/Horn UG