Engage²: Implementing a Health Literacy Protocol for Patient Assessment and Engagement

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this evidence-based project was to implement a standardized patient engagement strategy to assess health literacy using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores to measure improvement in the domain of RN Communication. A project team created two verbal questions, developed specifically for the hospital setting, that would bypass written assessment for health literacy and initiate positive interactions between nurses and patients. The registered nurses (RNs) on the unit implemented this protocol for all new admissions. The oral assessments of patient knowledge regarding their health condition, as recorded by the RNs, demonstrated the need to clarify with patients the reasons for their hospitalization. The HCAHPS scores improved during the trial period, which indicated that implementing this protocol had positive implications for patient satisfaction. The additional data included in this study were drawn from a Pulse Check survey of patient preferences that underscored the success of the Engage² project.

KEYWORDS:

• Evidence-based practice
• HCAHPS scores
• health screening methods
• nurse-patient communication
• patient preferences
• patient satisfaction

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jackie Davis

Jackie Davis, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Consumer Health Librarian, Sharp HealthCare, 3075 Health Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92123, USA.