Outcomes Study: Improving Health Literacy Practices - Insights from Acute Care and Specialty Pharmacy Staff

Members of our team had the opportunity to present a new poster abstract at the 2025 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, which was held from December 7-10, 2025.

Authors

Zemoria Johnson, PharmD, MBA, DPLA, RPh, CPh, LSSGB; Andrew Wash, PharmD, PhD, RPh; Lily Duong, PharmD, RPh; Rabiah Dys, PharmD, RPh; Karen Lee, PharmD, BCPS, RPh

Background

• Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.¹

• The teach back method and use of plain language are widely adopted health literacy strategies that enhance patient's understanding of and adherence to their prescribed medication(s).

• Health-literate care teams consistently incorporate effective health literacy practices (e.g., teach back method) into routine patient interactions.

Objectives

Determine if health literacy practice gaps vary by role and/or practice environment using a survey-based analysis.

Identify opportunities to address health literacy practice gaps among pharmacists and technical staff (e.g., pharmacy technicians) in acute care and specialty pharmacy settings.