The need for research on health literacy in Ireland is highlighted in a NALA report from 2002 entitled, ‘Health Literacy, Policy and Strategy.’ Important actionable suggestions from this report include:

• Irish research needs to be commissioned in areas of literacy training, communication, effects of low literacy skills on chronic illness etc…
• A specific literacy research fund should be available to health and literacy practitioners, who should be obliged to publicise findings
• Health literacy should be explored by the Health Service Executive.
• All health promotion literature should be subject to literacy proofing.
• All front line staff in hospitals and health centres should be literacy aware and be able to verbally convey information.
• Professional jargon in forms, signs and health education material must be modified.

Speaking at the launch of the Crystal Clear MSD Health Literacy Awards 2010, Inez Bailey, Director of NALA, said, “A large section of the Irish population does not have the literacy skills to understand and use our health service. To highlight this, NALA has launched an Audit in a Healthcare Setting in partnership with MSDand NALA to help inform best practice in relation to health literacy. The audit will assess and document the literacy demands called for in a number of healthcare settings, including materials such as leaflets and signage.”

Carmel Donohoe, Researcher, Health Promotion Department, HSE, Population Health, Tallaght, Co. Dublin, who was a winner in the Crystal Clear MSD Health Literacy Awards 2008, conducted research in 2005 on health literacy in Ireland.

Her research was entitled, ‘Examining the process of providing health information and health promotion literature to health service users with low literacy levels in the South Western Area Health Board.’

This research examined how health information and health promotion literature is provided to health service users (HSUs) in five health centres and Community Care Service Headquarters in HSE, Dublin Mid Leinster region. It also sought to gain insight into the experience of HSUs seeking access to health services and health information.

The results of the research project found that:

• HSUs with low literacy levels experience difficulties when attempting to access health information and health services.
• It also found that whereas HSE staff are willing to accommodate the needs of HSUs with low literacy levels, more awareness raising, resources and training are necessary, particularly for front-line staff.
  Some key recommendations of this research include:
• Provide awareness raising and training of health services staff in seeking ways to accommodate the needs of HSUs with low literacy levels.
• Expand the role of administrative staff in the Health Promotion Department to facilitate a more streamlined distribution of health information materials to health centres and outlying locations.
• Ensure stronger liaison between the Health Promotion Department with the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health & Children in ensuring development of more culturally and literacy sensitive health information materials.
  Positive actions were taken as results of this pioneering research project are as follows:
• A key person was identified in a number of health centres in the former south western area health board to ensure that literature is received and distributed more efficiently and to effect more fluid communication between the Health Promotion Department and health centres.
• Administration staff from the Health Promotion Department participated in a consultation process to review the distribution of health literature nationally.