The following PDF file is from a presentation at the DSHS HIV/STD Conference in December 2006 from the National Center for Farmworker Health. It was presented by Alicia Gonzales and Monica Saavedra-Embesi. The document contains power point slides from the presentation, activities, and links to other resources. The topics include understanding the problems with literacy, how to assess a person's literacy level, and providing clear communication in both written and verbal mediums.
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HRSA has launched a new Web-based health communications training tool designed to improve interaction between health care providers and their patients. The interactive training course, "Unified Health Communication: Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency," aims to raise the quality of provider-patient interactions by teaching providers and their staff how to gauge and respond to their patients' health literacy, cultural background, and language skills.

The course's five modules take four to five hours to complete. Modules 1 through 4 provide an introduction to health communication, health literacy, cultural competency, and limited English proficiency. In Module 5, participants can apply information learned in previous modules to test their ability to communicate effectively with patients. Self-paced instruction allows participants to complete one or more modules at a time. The modules' textual information is enhanced by colorful graphics, interactive elements, and video vignettes.

Continuing education credits for completing the course will be made available from the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Association for Health Education, the American Pharmacists Association, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

To access the course go to: http://www.hrsa.gov/healthliteracy/training.htm