Hi everyone
I have just finished participating in the Masters Orientation programme and am particularly excited about the panel speakers who presented. We were very fortunate to have Judy Hunter chair the group comprising of Diana Coben and Jane Furness.
Diana Coben has recently joined the University of Waikato from the UK, where she was Professor of Adult Numeracy at King’s College London. Diana described her research study, which involves numeracy and health literacy. Diana and her team are designing an assessment tool to test aspects of numeracy for nursing. The challenge for the design team is in making the test as authentic as possible. Results to date indicate that the online test replicates the results that are achieved from the present testing system, which is heavy on staff and resources, because it is a mock patient nurse scenario. To read more about her research please go to http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/IPs/ip28-3/BSRLM-IP-28-3-04.pdf
The second presentation was by Jane Furness on her research in Whanau literacy. One of the strong messages that came from this was that what we do matters. Case studies were presented proving that skills taught through various literacy courses may not be realized immediately (which has implications for assessment) but later on can be utilized to make a real difference for the giver and receiver of the resulting action or advice.
The panel session was very exciting because it was great for me to see numeracy take a central role within applied health literacy and also to hear Jane speak about positive experiences where training makes a difference. To hear more about Health Literacy and the importance of understanding, accessing and using health care information please go to the following video from Judy Hunter Co-Director of the Health Literacy project at University of Waikato,
http://literacyandnumeracyforadults.com/content/download/12727/227130/version/6/file/JUDY+HUNTER_F9+512X288+%2816x9%29MASTER_576k.mp4
What I found so fascinating was the fact that people suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure develop anxiety when taking diuretic tablets. Diuretic medication release excess water from the body and prevents the build up of water on the heart.This anxiety builds up when they have to go out for the day.This increases the glucose levels in the blood. They then ask themselves questions.Where will we find ablutions facilities where we are going to? How often do we have to "go"? Bearing all these factors in mind, the person then rather decides to abstain from taking the medication which then results in other repercussions. A break in normal routine of taking medication upsets the functioning of other physiological activities in the body.A vicious circle. That is where education comes in, showing patients the advantages of taking medication on time and regularly as prescribed. Ethni Snell
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