Association between familiarity with health literacy and health professionals’ use of health literacy-responsive communication techniques

The communication competencies of health professionals not only enhance the quality of care but also play a crucial role in fostering patient satisfaction and strengthening health literacy. This study examines health professionals’ self-reported use of health literacy responsive communication techniques by health professionals when interacting with patients with low health literacy. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 618 professionals from teaching hospitals and Comprehensive Health Service Centers (CHSCs) affiliated with Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Participants were recruited through a web-based survey distributed to health professionals working in randomly selected teaching hospitals and Comprehensive Health Service Centers across five randomly selected cities in Kurdistan Province. Data were collected using a validated 14-item questionnaire adapted from the American Medical Association’s (AMA) communication scale. Approximately 69.7% of participants reported familiarity with the concept of health literacy; however, only 51.1% correctly identified its three levels (functional, interactive, and critical), while approximately 40% were unfamiliar with the concept. Familiarity was significantly higher among professionals working in comprehensive health service centers than among those in hospitals. Use of communication techniques differed significantly across professional groups, with healthcare workers and midwives reporting greater use of recommended techniques than physicians. Participants familiar with health literacy also reported significantly more frequent use of communication techniques. The most frequently reported strategies were the use of plain language (70.4%) and tailoring educational materials to patients’ health literacy levels (63.1%), whereas the use of visual aids (23.5%) and structured follow-up communication (25.1%) were reported least frequently. The findings indicate a gap between awareness and the consistent application of a full range of responsive communication practices. The study concludes that while foundational awareness exists, targeted and profession-specific educational interventions are necessary to enhance the routine use of effective health literacy responsive communication across all Health care settings and professional groups.