Transcript Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Health Literacy in Drug Court
Diversion Program Clients
Marie E. Gill, MSN, MS, RN-BC
PhD Student
The University of Tennessee
Health Science Center
Objectives
1. Discuss literacy, health literacy, and health status of
the Drug Court (DC) Diversion Program clients in
Memphis, TN
2. Describe the DC Diversion Program and gaps in DC
research and health literacy
3. Discuss health literacy as integral to successful
completion of drug court
4. Re-conceptualize DC as a health promotion
intervention
Health Literacy
Health Literacy Definition
“The degree to which individuals have the
capacity to obtain, process, and understand
basic health information and services
needed to make appropriate health
decisions.”
(Ratzan & Parker, 2000; Institute of Medicine, 2004; Healthy People 2010)
Health Literacy Significance
Approximately 80 million U.S. adults have
limited health literacy (HL)
Adverse health outcomes
At-risk populations
Research focus
Gaps in the research
Significance in Memphis
23% illiteracy rate
40% of college graduates reported problems
with limited HL
Memphis Drug Court
Diversion Program
DC Client Demographics
African American (62%)
Male (58%)
Less than High School education (34%)
High School graduates (60%)
AD/BS college graduates (6%)
DC Client Health Status
Smoking (82%)
Obesity (85%)
Dental disease (73%)
Mental health illness (54%)
Hepatitis (39%)
Deadly intrafamilial violence (25%)
DC Client System Navigation
No health care services in 5 years (32%)
Never seen by a health care provider (22%)
Poor navigation skills for health care and drug
court systems
Drug Court As Health
Promotion Intervention
DC Client Handbook
Mandatory appointment attendance
Counselor comments “…they just don’t get it”
“they just understand”
“they are too young”
“they are new”
Conceptual Framework
Future Research
What is the HL of DC clients?
How do DC clients define health?
What guides DC clients decision-making?
How does HL effect clients successful
completion of DC diversion programs?
What mechanisms propel system navigation
for DC clients?