ASHP InterSections Fall 2009 - 10

Want to Know More? Fotonovelas tell stories through the use of photos and word bubbles. novels or comic books, fotonovelas tell stories via photos and word bubbles and use limited text. As a clinical pharmacy specialist at the JWCH Institute Center for Community Health, Los Angeles, Steven Chen, Pharm.D., FASHP, is very familiar with the appeal and effectiveness of fotonovelas among Hispanic patients. Chen, who is also an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles, worked with colleague Mel Baron, Pharm.D., M.P.A., to create a fotonovela about the dangers of untreated diabetes. Entitled Sweet Temptations, the fotonovela has effectively broken down a number of health literacy barriers among patients, according to Chen. The booklet was funded by a combination of university, industry, nonprofit, and local community pharmacy grants. “We have to understand that different cultures have different methods that work better,” Chen said. “When you start talking about relatives with the disease, who are struggling with dialysis or facing the prospect of losing a leg, we speak to their values. Personalizing the problem and making it simple is the most important thing we can do for patients.” ThERE aRE a numBER of helpful resources on AShP’s Web site about the importance of addressing patients’ health literacy needs, including links to studies and other organizations that offer lessons learned. members can reference the AShP Statement on racial and ethnic Disparities in health care for more information. Additionally, AShP often has educational sessions devoted to health literacy issues at its meetings and covers this issue extensively in its news reporting and in the American Journal of HealthSystem Pharmacy. finally, the AShP research and education foundation will soon post a Spanish version of “my medicine list” to reach out to patients for whom english is a second language. http://www.healthypeople.gov pages 10+11 intersections fall 2009

ASHP InterSections Fall 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHP InterSections Fall 2009