Communication techniques for patients with low health literacy: a survey of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the self-reported techniques used by health care professionals to enhance communication with patients with low health literacy. METHODS: A survey was administered to physicians (n=99), nurses (n=87), and pharmacists (n=121) attending continuing education programs on patient safety and health care quality. Each was asked to rate communication-enhancing strategies by frequency of use and effectiveness with patients with low health literacy. RESULTS: Using simple language (94.7%), handing out printed materials (70.3%), and speaking more slowly (67.3%) were the most commonly used strategies. Strategies currently recommended by health literacy experts were less routinely used. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed that evaluates the effectiveness of communication strategies for patients with limited literacy skills within diverse clinical encounters.