There is a concern of how to ensure that the individual would answer honestly. It was suggested that the patient needs to be educated about the drugs they are to take, the reason the drug needs to be taken, why the drug is important, and all the possible side effects of the drug. Conclusion Some of the members of this Listserv feel that the AMA and its physician membership are not showing sufficient interest in low literacy issues. Still, most people do rely on their primary physician as the key source for their medical information. As we move toward increased HMO care, many people will no longer have a single physician on which they may call.
Motivation is one big factor.
A person who is a great reader, but who has no frame of reference on working a VCR, may not be able to figure out how the darn contraption works. A person who has limited reading skills, but has a child diagnosed with leukemia may pour over information, learning complicated terms and weeding through lots of 3-syllable words. I am not saying this is optimal. I am saying people can get highly motivated when they themselves or someone they love is in a medical crisis.