We saw the problem of sharing scientific research and recommendations for their implementation during the Covid period. 663,000,000 followers read what Cristiano Ronaldo was saying. 500,000,000 followers read what Lionel Messi said. Between 417,000,000 are listening to Selena Gomez. (About a quarter of the world' adult population.)
I followed a webinar on the issues of engaging with patients to present evidence and research. The research showed that being very truthful was more successful than presenting skewed facts.
The North American Adult Literacy Survey of 20,000 adults in 2003 showed that only 3% could understand a technical or legal document. ***At the bottom of tbe literacy scale 25% of North American patients could not fill in simple forms or read complicated texts. They could not cope with the day to day administration of American life. The next 25% needed some help, and the literacy improved over the five grades of literacy. The results mimic the results of height, weight or strength in a society - a gaussian distribution curve.
It seems desirable to take schools' and academies literacy levels for their pupils to enter into the medical records. We could then use AI to automatically write patient communications of the right level for our patients.
*** Studies of adult literacy in other countries produce similar results.
A small discussion group at the time of covid suggested that the WHO could approach popular bloggers for permission to update them on current research and implementation advice which they would have to hand and might consider when writing their blogs.
List of most-followed Instagram accounts - Wikipedia
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HIFA profile: Richard Fitton is a retired family doctor - GP. Professional interests: Health literacy, patient partnership of trust and implementation of healthcare with professionals, family and public involvement in the prevention of modern lifestyle diseases, patients using access to professional records to overcome confidentiality barriers to care, patients as part of the policing of the use of their patient data Email address: richardpeterfitton7 AT gmail.com