Effective Communication to Enhance Health Literacy in The Diabetic Older Adults with High Blood Pressure

Abstract

The older adults were the group with the highest prevalence of diabetes, especially those with hypertension as a co-morbid. If there is insufficient level of health literacy, that will result in increased mortality rate from cardiovascular disease. A study on the effect of verbal communication in patients with sufficiency level of health literacy found that there was a positive effect on self-care and health outcomes that could reduce blood sugar levels. In addition, the health care provider communicated with the elderly with diabetes and hypertension had no positive health outcomes because there were factors associated with the developmental deterioration at different ages and differently perceived experiences of health. These factors caused the information to be misleading from reality. The developing of communication methods for accessibility, understand, and put health information into practice comprised 3 levels: 1) the basic level is reading and writing: 2) the interaction level is asking questions about things that are not understood and telling others to understand: 3) the judgment level is to decide on reliable health information and use it to manage their own health. Therefore, the communication method for developing level of health literacy included 3 steps: 1) Build relationships and be open to information 2) Raise awareness of health care and 3) Build motivation for changing behavior decisions. There were various communication techniques in each step, such as including using the patients’ achievement experiences, giving health information by using narratives as a presentation technique, stimulating both positive and negative emotions, feedback technique, and communication through application Line or Facebook. These communication techniques could encourage health care providers to communicate more effectively and improved the level of health literacy for diabetic older adults with hypertension for resulting in positive health outcomes.