Table 2.

Five key clinical messages

Low levels of health literacy are a widespread problem that has an impact on the effectiveness of rehabilitation professionals’ interventions and on individual and population health (22). Health literacy should be considered by rehabilitation professionals because of its links with 1) capacities, functioning, participation and empowerment of clients; 2) holistic approach; 3) client-centered practice; 4) teaching of information and methods; and 5) access to services and equity issues (22). Health literacy enables clients and rehabilitation professionals to engage in a true dialogue fostering: 1) a common perspective on how to address the situation, 2) listening, 3) mutual learning, and 4) a climate of trust and partnership (5). Professionals, including occupational therapists, should learn to communicate effectively (1, 4, 23, 24, 43) and simply in an atmosphere conducive to communication (55): 1) announce the subject, 2) convey the message, and 3) ask clients to say in their own words what they remember of the information or methods taught (3, 7, 9, 25, 46, 47). This ‘teach-back’ technique provides opportunities to identify and correct misunderstandings (3, 46) Professionals, including occupational therapists, should use demonstration, experimentation and repetition to increase the effectiveness of teaching efforts (24)