Transfer to a user-friendly and health-competent healthcare system
dr PH Sebastian Schmidt-Kaehler MPH / Prof. Dr. phil. Doris Schaeffer / Univ.-Prof. em. Dr. phil. Jürgen Pelikan
With its high density of care facilities, free access to medical services, free choice of doctor and a high degree of differentiation, the German health system offers its insured persons a wide range of services and a variety of options. Responsible and enlightened patients use this freedom and are increasingly taking matters into their own hands: They are better informed than ever before, question, demand, know their rights and work proactively to regain or maintain their health. Such self-determined and competent use of the care system requires that patients can deal with health-relevant information and actively participate in decision-making processes. However, the current study situation indicates that this is often not the case. According to this, over half of the German population faces significant problems when it comes to finding, understanding, assessing and applying health-relevant information (Schaeffer et al. 2016). The skills and abilities required for this are defined as “health literacy”. Competent handling of health-relevant information forms the basis for taking an active role in the treatment process, finding your way around the diversity of instances in the system and being able to participate in decisions in the treatment process. The term “health literacy”, which is derived from the English “health literacy”, has been growing in popularity in German specialist literature for several years and is increasingly being described as a significant factor in the public health debate worldwide (Sørensen et al. 2012).
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First publication date: 04.10.2019
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Abstract: Transfer zu einem nutzerfreundlichen und gesundheitskompetenten Gesundheitssystem
A low level of health literacy in the population has consequences for individuals, but also poses major challenges for health systems, because health literacy also has a lasting impact on the use of health care. Health literacy is by no means just a personal disposition, but is always an expression of the situational demands that a system places on its users. This article therefore examines the question of what a user-friendly and health-competent healthcare system could look like. It refers to the National Health Literacy Action Plan, as well as to a number of strategy papers that were published following the action plan. The overall view of the strategic recommendations creates a picture of a user-friendly healthcare system that makes it easier to handle information and strengthens the self-determination of patients. Important areas of action include the user-friendly design of the care structures and the information and communication landscape as well as the inclusion of patients in the care design.
Abstract: Transfer towards a user-friendly and health literate health system
A low level of health literacy in the population has consequences for individuals, but also poses major challenges to health systems, as health literacy also has a lasting impact on the use of healthcare. Health literacy is by no means just a personal disposition, but is always also an expression of the situational demands a system places on its users. The present paper therefore asks how a user-friendly healthcare system that promotes health literacy could look like. It makes reference to the National Health Literacy Action Plan as well as to a series of strategy papers published in its wake. The strategic recommendations as a whole create the image of a user-friendly healthcare system that facilitates the handling of information and strengthens the ability of patients to take an active part in their care. Important aspects include a user-friendly design of care structures and the ways information and communication are handled, as well as the inclusion of patients in the shaping of their care.
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