The Roles of Trust and Health Literacy in Achieving Health Equity: Clinical Settings: Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief

Excerpt

The National Academies Roundtable on Health Literacy convened the first of three workshops to explore the positive impacts on health equity improved literacy practices in clinical settings can have. To relate and inspire confidence, physicians must communicate plainly and at the literacy level of the patient and recognize the knowledge the patient brings. Equality and equity are not the same, and treating every patient, their conditions, history, and identity, identically can interfere with trust. Diversifying the work force can facilitate better clinical practices that honor all patients. This Proceedings document summarizes workshop discussions.