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Sammanfattning

Patient engagement and patient-centred care are increasingly focal in the Danish and international healthcare discourse. Concepts which, in clinical practice, make demands of the patient and health professionals alike. Patients are confronted with an increasing volume of complex health information, which rarely harmonises with the individual’s health literacy. This master’s project studies nurses’ experience of communication supporting patient health literacy. Findings from a qualitative semi-structured interview-based study of five informants show that familiarity with the concept of health literacy is minimal, and that communicative practices are largely confined to information-giving. Health literacy is key in improving patient engagement, patient-side perceptions, patient safety and clinical outcomes at lower cost. The findings of this master’s project will serve to elicit reflection among nurses on their own role in relation to health literacy. The article rounds off with a discussion of general perspectives on improving communication in the public health service.

MeSH