Introduction
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is a highly reputable government agency that promotes and advances medical research and knowledge. The website, www.nih.gov, serves as a comprehensive and accessible platform for disseminating health and medical information. With an extensive library of educational materials on a wide range of topics, this resource is designed to inform, educate and empower patients and healthcare staff to make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.
Barriers to Communication
Dementia is a significant challenge for healthcare professionals when communicating with patients. The lack of memory, confusion, and disorientation among patients with dementia can pose significant challenges in understanding and following instructions. Impaired hearing can pose significant challenges in communication between health care professionals and patients. Patients with language barriers need help comprehending spoken instructions, which can result in misunderstandings and ineffective communication. Language barriers can be a challenge in healthcare communication. Patients not proficient in the language used by healthcare professionals may need help understanding medical terms and instructions.
Proposed Modifications
Dementia can present a barrier to understanding complex information presented in the NIH educational resource. To overcome this challenge, the resource can be modified to make it more accessible and understandable for individuals with dementia. This can be achieved through large print, clear, simple language broken into short sections, avoiding medical jargon, and incorporating visual aids such as diagrams, illustrations, and videos (Baylor et al., 2022). The use of visual aids has been shown to significantly enhance the accessibility of health information for individuals with communication difficulties, including dementia (Baylor et al., 2022). The use of precise language enhances the resource’s effectiveness for individuals with dementia by improving comprehension and retention of information (McCorry & Mason, 2020). The importance of addressing health literacy as a social determinant of health, including considering the specific needs of populations with communication barriers, has been highlighted by Nutbeam and Lloyd (2021). Clear, simple language can improve accessibility and understanding for individuals with dementia, facilitating better comprehension and retention.
To ensure that the NIH educational resource is accessible and usable for individuals with hearing impairment, the website could offer additional resources and support. This could include providing videos with sign language interpretation, alternative communication methods such as written instructions or an online chat service, clear and concise language, and information in multiple languages. Additionally, a feedback section could be added where individuals with hearing impairment can provide feedback on the accessibility and usefulness of the resource, allowing the NIH to continuously improve the resource and make it more accessible and understandable for all (Nutbeam & Lloyd, 2021; McCorry & Mason, 2020). Incorporating modifications to make the NIH educational resource more accessible and understandable for individuals with hearing impairment is essential.
Patients who are not fluent in English may need help accessing the information presented on the NIH website. To address this barrier, the website could be modified to include translations in multiple languages, making it more accessible and understandable for these individuals. For example, Nutbeam and Lloyd (2021) emphasized the importance of addressing health literacy as a social determinant of health, including considering the specific needs of populations with communication barriers such as language barriers. The resource could provide options for alternative communication methods, such as written instructions in the patient’s native language or an online chat service that can assist with translation. This would allow individuals who are not fluent in English to communicate with healthcare staff and get answers to their questions in a language they understand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the NIH educational resource is a valuable source of information for patients and healthcare staff. However, it is important to consider communication barriers, such as dementia, impaired hearing, and language, when choosing and adapting the resource. By incorporating modifications, such as large print and clear language, closed captioning or transcripts, and multiple language translations, the resource can be more accessible and understandable for a broader range of patients and healthcare staff. The NIH educational resource can be improved to better suit the needs of each patient group, resulting in a more effective resource.
References
Baylor, C., Brown, C., Mroz, T. M., & Burns, M. (2022). Understanding how older adults with communication difficulties access health services: What we can learn from the national health and aging trends study (NHATS). Seminars in Speech and Language, 43(03), 176–197. Web.
McCorry, L. K., & Mason, J. (2020). Communication skills for the healthcare professional, enhanced edition (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Nutbeam, D., & Lloyd, J. E. (2021). Understanding and responding to health literacy as a social determinant of health. Annual Review of Public Health, 42(1), 159–173. Web.