Pfizer developed a healthcare literacy tool to help healthcare providers determine patients' level of literacy and alter communication practices accordingly.
The Newest Vital Sign assessment can be administered while other vitals are being taken. It requires a nurse or other attending clinician to ask a series of six questions while a patient scans and interprets a nutrition label. The six questions should take no longer than two or three minutes to complete. If a patient requires more time than this, he or she has an increased likelihood of having limited literacy and the assessment should be stopped. Based on a score of 0 to six, physicians can identify patients' level of literacy.
The toolkit also includes best practices for implementing the Newest Vital Sign assessment.
Download the Newest Vital Sign assessment (PDF) for use in your facility.
Note: View our database providing 150 reports that link to free, downloadable and adaptable tools for use in surgery centers, hospitals and other organizations by clicking here.
The Newest Vital Sign assessment can be administered while other vitals are being taken. It requires a nurse or other attending clinician to ask a series of six questions while a patient scans and interprets a nutrition label. The six questions should take no longer than two or three minutes to complete. If a patient requires more time than this, he or she has an increased likelihood of having limited literacy and the assessment should be stopped. Based on a score of 0 to six, physicians can identify patients' level of literacy.
The toolkit also includes best practices for implementing the Newest Vital Sign assessment.
Download the Newest Vital Sign assessment (PDF) for use in your facility.
Note: View our database providing 150 reports that link to free, downloadable and adaptable tools for use in surgery centers, hospitals and other organizations by clicking here.
More Articles on Health Literacy:
Patient Safety Tool: Checklist for Health Literacy Materials
9 Guiding Principles for Patient Engagement
10 Signs of a Health Literate Healthcare Organization
