Knowledge is Power: Empowering Patients by Teaching Online Health Literacy

Background: Over half of U.S. adults identify the internet as their primary source of health information. However, while patients call health information “empowering” and “critical” to being “active participants in their own care and informed partners in the decision-making process”, they also report challenges distinguishing between high- and low-quality health information on the Internet. Online misinformation has led to injury or death, thereby “disempowering” patients. In recognition of the significance of this, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends adult basic education lessons on health content from the Internet.

Description: A pilot class on critical evaluation of online health information was developed and delivered by the medical librarian and nursing to psychiatric inpatients on NYP-WBHC’s Self-Injurious Behavior Unit beginning in mid-April 2021. Patients were encouraged to use the accurate health information they find online to ask questions of their treatment team and become more active participants in their plan of care.

Conclusion: Patient experience ratings on the Press Ganey metric “Staff’s efforts to include you in decisions about your care” improved during the intervention period.