Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

11-44 | CHAPTER 11

Recommendations for cultural awareness in educators include the following (59-62): • Demonstrate respect and appreciation for learners’ culture and values. • Be aware that advice, such as “Think of yourself”, is not likely to be effective for many cultures. • Take steps to actualize family-centered care. • Know that alternative and traditional approaches may coexist successfully. • Consider the educational messages given in terms of cause of diabetes and decision making autonomy. • Avoid thinking that all members of an ethnic group share the group’s attitudes and beliefs. Individuality permeates all cultures

Understanding the impact of low literacy on health behaviours Literacy has a profound effect on our communication, identification, understanding, and interpretation of the world we live in.

“Literacy is a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning. It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives. For individuals, families, and societies alike, it is an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, one’s income, and one’s relationship with the world.” (63)

Literacy in Canada Four out of 10 adult Canadians, age 16 to 65 - representing nine million Canadians - have low literacy skills. They fall below level three on the Prose Literacy Scale (64-66). This means that they: • Take words literally.

• Listen and read slowly. • Skip uncommon words. • Have difficulty finding key concepts; their eyes wander. • Focus on details and cannot prioritize.