Health education is linked to wellness

Thursday, 14 July 2011 16:00

News - Employee Wellness

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Individuals who are well-informed on medical conditions, risk factors, healthcare systems and doctor and pharmaceutical instructions tend to be more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle when compared to their counterparts with low health literacy.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that an estimated 90 percent of Americans find it troublesome to understand medical information provided by the media and healthcare facilities, a fact which underscores a need for improved education.

In order to rectify this, the DHHS has developed the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, a campaign aimed at providing more accurate and accessible information, delivering individual-centered services and supporting continued learning on healthy lifestlye factors.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine reports that individuals should have the skills to evaluate information, weigh risks and benefits, calculate medication doses, interpret test results and find credible health information.

Employers may want to consider making efforts toward educating staff members on health risks and keeping stress levels low, since chronic anxiety is linked with a host of illnesses. Employee wellness programs that provide information on medical issues and well-being that is both accurate and easy to understand may result in a healthier staff, with stronger employee performance and reduced workplace stress.