The Internet has empowered consumers to retrieve instantaneous information about almost any health issue that arises. For example, a Google search for "measles" identified 12.1 million different links in a mere 0.11 seconds.

However, today the problem lies not with finding information but with recognizing which information is up-to-date, credible, and valuable. Unfortunately, many health consumers do not have the literacy skills to sift through available information and identify that which is relevant.

Nurses can play a valuable role in helping to improve consumer health literacy. In this final week, you explore how nurses can be involved in increasing the health literacy of patients.

Health Information Patient Handout

One of the pivotal goals of consumer health literacy efforts is to design educational materials that attract as well as educate users. In this Assignment, you design a health information document on a topic that is of interest to you.

To prepare:

· Select a health issue of interest to you.

· Identify the audience or population that you seek to educate about this issue.

· Search the Internet to find credible sites containing information about your selected topic.

· Review the two health literacy websites listed in this week's Learning Resources. Focus on strategies for presenting information.

To complete:

· Design an educational handout on the health issue you selected.

o Include a cover page.

o Include an introduction that provides:

An explanation of your issue and why you selected it

A description of the audience you are addressing

o In the handout itself:

Develop your handout in such a way that it attracts the attention of the intended audience.

Include a description of the health issue and additional content that will enhance your message (i.e., key terms and definitions, graphics, illustrations, etc.).

Recommend four or five sites that provide clear, valuable, and reliable information on the topic.