There are certain challenges that impact on ensuring health information remains a strategic resource in the Australian Health care system. Health information is explained as any information that is associated with health or any form of health care. It forms the basis of campaigns that promote health and aims at informing the public about issues in health and modifying the consumers’ behaviors that are related to health (Council of Australian Governments, 2011). It is very significant in helping the consumers to have personal interactions with the health care system and other processes. It also assists consumers of health care to search and receive services, managing their health conditions and making everyday decisions to enhance their health. There are three major challenges that affect the provision of health information in Australia negatively. The first challenge is the provision of unclear, unfocused and unusable health information to the consumers. The second challenge is the ineffective interpersonal communication. The last challenge is poor integration of health literacy into education. These challenges ensure that health information does not remain a strategic resource in the Australian Health care system.

Provision of Unclear, Unfocused and Unusable Health Information to the Consumers

Provision of unclear, unfocused and unusable health information to the consumers in affects the Australian health care system negatively (Nutbeam et al., 2000). Health information is very important in promoting the well-being of the health care consumers. They need this information to ensure that they search and receive quality health services from health care workers (Australian Government, 2011).   It is the same information that they help consumers have an effective interaction with the health care givers that ensure their conditions are well understood, and they receive the right treatment. In Australia, health care providers do not give health information that is clear, focused and usable by the consumers. These problems interfere with the provision of quality health care in this country. These problems are some of the reasons why I decided to address this challenge. I can make the problem known, and I can also give actions for addressing the challenge by looking at the issue critically. These actions can be of great help to the policy makers who can correct the way consumers receive health information from the health care practitioners. If consumers get clear, focused and usable health information, the quality of health care offered in Australia will improve.

There are problems with the current health information in Australia. There exist some gaps between the health information that the consumers need and what is accessible or provided to them. A research done by health care providers and consumers investigating the quality of consumers health information found that the quality of most information used by the consumers was poor (Council of Australian Governments, 2011). It was poor in that it did not meet the immediate need of the consumers, and it did not promote quality decision-making. Another study indicated that most current health information is complicated and that many consumers cannot understand it hence it not usable. Several studies have proved that the level of reading of most health information materials in Australia is above the understanding ability of the average adult (Nutbeam et al., 2000).From the results of these studies, it is clear that it is a big challenge for consumers to access, understand and apply the health information to their advantage. This problem of poor understanding of health information is very prominent among those with low health literacy. The health information complexity presents an important barrier especially to the low literacy people and can hamper participation in their care. The complexity can also hinder them from taking effective measures in issues concerning their health.

There are several strategies that can be used to make the health information clear, focused and usable by the consumers (eHealth, 2013). A series of studies have been carried out to investigate the strategies that can be utilized to reduce the ambiguity of the health information and also improve the presentation of this information (Australian Government, 2011). A good number of researches have been carried out to examine the interventions that can be used in mitigating the consequences of low health literacy. These studies revealed that the use few clear strategies improved the understanding of health information. These clear strategies include the presentation of important information first, use of consistent denominators to present benefit and risk information and addition of video to verbal communication. These studies also identified that there were increased benefits when the level of reading is reduced to use of illustrative narration.

Involvement of the consumers in developing health information materials can assist in addressing the health literacy by making sure that the information is clear, focused, readable and usable (Department of Health and Ageing, 2012). Other effective strategies include the process of personalizing the health information that is written and combining both written and verbal information in reinforcing important health messages. One review about this challenge identified that using resources with alternative formats such as audiotapes, internet, virtual support groups and health communities improved knowledge in health and led to more user satisfaction (eHealth, 2013). The review also found beneficial effects for consumers associated with self-efficacy, decision involvements and expressing confidence during consultations with the health practitioners. Benefits were also noted on health behavior especially in those consumers that used educational interventions that were web-based. Many studies and reviews done addressing this issue prove that the provision of clear, focused and usable health information to the consumers improve their understanding of their conditions and contribute to their well-being.

Ineffective Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is described as the communication that occurs between two or more people (Best et al., 2012). Scholars believe that effective communication should be based on empathy, understanding, trust and cooperation between the parties involved. In many regions of the world and Australia, use of ineffective interpersonal communication has posed a big challenge in understanding health information by the consumers. A research carried out in the United States identified use of ineffective personal communication as the largest obstacle in the provision of quality health information (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2010). In another study that was carried out in China, use of ineffective personal communication was identified as the main cause of poor provision of health information in that country (Victorian University, 2009). So, the role of interpersonal communication cannot be ignored if health systems want to provide quality health information to the public. I have been the victim of this ineffective communication where the health care provider gave me instructions that I could not follow due the poor communication that he used. Many people especially in Australia have suffered in the hand of these health practitioners who do not understand that effective communication is important while giving health information to a consumer. This problem in personal communication stimulated me to search for effective actions to solve this problem in Australia. I want health information to remain a strategic resource in the Australian Health care system.

Communication is a significant problem in the health care system. In Australia, researchers have identified communication as the frequent cause of the underlying complaints in health care and a major concern for consumers of health care (Keleher & Hagger, 2007). The health information in Australia is available widely from many sources, but consumers prefer to rely on health practitioners for information concerning their health and health care. They also use other sources to supplement the information such as media, friends, family and website. Consumers confirm that they seek health information from health practitioners than any other source(Kickbusch, 2001; Medicare Australia, 2012). However, many of the consumers have a big challenge of comprehending what their health practitioners advise them to do (Best et al., 2012). The problem of consumers not understanding most of what they are advised by their health practitioners indicate that health care workers must learn to use effective interpersonal communication.

A study done in Australia indicated that most of the consumers are not able to remember approximately 45% to 85% of the health information immediately given to them by their health practitioners (Kickbusch, 2001).The study also highlighted that most of the information remembered is incorrect. The study also showed that consumers could not remember the amount of health information that was directly linked to the medical knowledge of the consumer and the amount of knowledge presented (Simonds, 2002).The failure to remember is a problem of ineffective communication. Many experts believe that it is a mismatch between what the health practitioner thinks they are delivering the message and what the comprehending and recalling of the consumer. Health care workers comprehending of health skills and literacy in interpersonal communication can help in contributing to the improvements in remembering and satisfaction of the consumer (Keleher & Hagger, 2007). The consumer understanding can lead to greater participation, confidence and more improved consumer’s decision-making.

There are several strategies that can be used in improving interpersonal communication between the health practitioners and the consumers (Pleasant, 2012).Strategies for improving the interpersonal communication are mostly based on approaches and principles that are patient-centered. Research has shown that fostering an approach that is patient-centered   to interpersonal communication lead to better health care, enhanced communication and improved health outcomes. Patient-centered approach is also related to increased efficiency of care. Strategies that health practitioners can use include attentive listening and information prompting, and confirming comprehending of the provided information (Jordan, Buchbinder & Osborne, 2010).These strategies also include the provision of options that are relevant to the consumer, use of simple body language. They also include doing a follow up on the actions that the consumer intend to take (Institute of Medicine, 2001). These strategies can have a significant change in the improvement of the quality of health care given to the consumers and also help health information to remain a strategic resource in the Australian health care system.

Strategies that are used for improving interpersonal communication are mostly focused on the particular tools or interventions of communication which foster participation, partnership, debate and discussion by the consumers. There are different types of these interventions, and they include using plain language in communicating health information, choices and instructions (The Joint Commission, 2007). They also include using decision aids which have been proved to result in improving knowledge, comprehending of preventions, screening and relevant options in treatment. Processes of shared decision-making have been shown as a significant foundation for care that is patient-centered and as a means that increases participation of consumers in decision-making (Plain Language, 2013). People who use shared decision-making have favorable outcomes of health. Recall and educative strategies have also been shown to improve effective interpersonal communication. These strategies include requesting consumers to remember information that they have received from a health practitioner to check their comprehension. These types of approaches can involve the use of the ‘teach goal technique’, ‘teach-back’ and ‘ask-tell-ask’ methods and many others in this category (Nilsen et al., 2006). A Study done in Australia indicated that a good number of these strategies that are educative are mostly effective with clients suffering from certain health conditions (Anderson, Allan & Finucane, 2001).They are also effective in clients who demonstrate improved management care, understanding and recalling of health information given to them by the health care providers. The Australian health care system should come up with effective strategies to ensure that effective interpersonal communication is understood by all health care providers. The overall benefit would be making sure that health information remains a strategic resource in Australian health care system.

Poor Integration of Health Literacy into Education

Research has proved that education plays an integral role in promoting and maintaining quality health and the connections between health outcomes and education have been known for a long time (Rudd, 2013). Studies have also indicated that education, general literacy, and health literacy are all interrelated in many ways. The informal and formal education of an individual plays a significant role in shaping their general literacy (Groene & Rudd, 2011). It also helps in contributing to their skills and knowledge in comprehending health systems and information and shaping their capacity for decision-making taking appropriate actions their well being and health care. Poor integration of health literacy into education contributes negatively to the provision of quality health information. In Australia, there is a great need for coming up with effective strategies that can be used to integrate health literacy into education (DeWalt et al., 2004). This challenge of poor health literacy integration into education stimulated me to find the relevant actions that can be used to address the problem. I have hope that after addressing this problem the Australian Health system policy makers would take this concern seriously and act promptly to address this problem once and for all.

Many individuals ask themselves whether there is the need of providing education and training to address health literacy problem. What they don’t know is that provision of education, and the necessary training is crucial to any process of change (Groene & Rudd, 2011). Training and education assist in providing the people with the necessary tools required in shifting to more reliable methods of health care and also in providing them with the required support to begin implementing new processes. There are various ways in which approaches in education can be utilized in addressing health literacy through providing education and training to various groups of people. These groups include individual consumers to help them in improving their understanding of particular health issues. A practical example is the provision of a sexual health program in schools to encourage safe sex practices. It can also be through helping individual consumers in developing their capacity and skills to acquire the necessary knowledge of health issues whenever they need it. A good example is the provision of adult education course to assist in teaching consumers on the best method to use in identifying credible information on the internet. Another group is the undergraduate students to help them in increasing their understanding of effective communication strategies. A good example is the provision of training to health practitioners on various techniques of communication like teach goal that can be used for checking whether they have given useful information to consumers (Rudd, 2013). The last group is health practitioners to help them in comprehending health literacy and the significant role it plays in good health acre outcomes.

Offering education and training to consumers about health literacy and health is focused to build the capacity and ability of the person in appraising, acting, applying and understanding the health information. The knowledge and skills required in for reliable decision-making about health care and well-being are affected from the time of early childhood (Kohn, Corrigan & Donaldson, 2000). The early childhood is the period when small children are first taught sun protection, healthy eating habits, importance of hygiene and various health preventive measures. Additionally, during school period, children are equipped with numeracy skills and general literacy and the required skills to make effective decisions by engaging in critical information analysis. However, study indicated that in Australia, about 46% of the persons aged 14 to 64 years did not learn the basic literacy skills that are required in critical review and acting on competing and complicated information (DeWalt et al., 2004). Education concerning the well being and general health care for individual clients can range from education involving managing and treating certain health conditions to provision of information concerning general measures for living a healthy life (Rudd, 2013). Consumer education is very vital in the provision of quality health provision. The Australian health care system should look for effective ways of implementing these strategies.

Health care providers need the education and training so that they can understand the effective ways of giving health information to the consumers (Institute of Medicine, 2004). The number of people who are involved in the provision of health care services and the producing and utilization of health information and this increases the likelihood of communication error occurring. It is very significant that health practitioners understand the health literacy issue and how the provision of inadequate health literacy can affect negatively the outcomes of health (Baker, 2006). They should also understand how their roles can affect how easy or difficult the clients use and comprehend the health care. They should also strive to search for effective strategies they utilize for ensuring that they provide services, advice and information that easy to act on, comprehend and utilize. Studies have shown that there is increasing awareness among health care providers that poor health literacy leads to poor health outcomes. The process of training health practitioners in health literacy has led to improved communication and counseling skills and more utilization of evidence-based strategies by health practitioners in addressing health literacy. Interventions involved in training of health practitioners about health literacy were linked to increased screening of cancer rates and increased satisfaction ratings from the consumers. Offering education and training of health workers has a positive impact in the quality of health care and health information offered to the consumers.

Conclusion

Research has shown that the provision of unclear, unfocused and unusable health information to the consumers affects the Australian health care system negatively. Health consumers require clear, focused and useable health information to comprehend their diagnosis, prognosis and the likely health outcomes from the various tests and treatment they receive from the health practitioners. They also need the necessary knowledge to enable them in the management of their health conditions and prevent further disease progression. Ineffective personal communication has been shown to contribute to the provision of poor health information. Use of patient-centered approach in interpersonal communication contributes to the creation of stronger relationships and quality of care offered to the consumers. Effective communication strategies must be adapted by the Australian health care system to enhance the well-being and general health of the consumers. Poor integration of health literacy into education has affected the provision of quality health information negatively. Research has shown that education play an integral role in the promotion and maintaining of quality health among the consumers. Both the health care providers and the consumers must receive relevant education and training to understand and use health education. These three challenges must be addressed to ensure that health information remains a strategic resource in the Australian health care system.

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