Health Literacy in Physiotherapy Education

As many as 45% of Europeans have low health literacy skills. In their work, physiotherapists encounter several client groups whose health literacy has a lot to develop. These client groups need individualized therapeutic and interactional approaches from the physiotherapist. In order to meet these needs, physiotherapists need to acquire sufficient health literacy skills already during their bachelor studies.

The project aims to develop the teaching and understanding of health literacy in physiotherapist training programs across Europe. The project is being implemented in collaboration with  certain Austrian, Dutch, Spanish and German universities.

The project consists of four separate work packages aimed at increasing health literacy skills in the training of physiotherapists, as well as among professionals working in clinical settings and their clients.

The first work package includes a framework work on the theoretical background of health literacy, which will increase understanding of health literacy skills and learning, as well as ways to influence skills (duration 1.2.2021-31.10.2021).

The second work package focuses on the creation and implementation of health literacy courses in line with the understanding gained through the first work package. The courses include, for example, simulation training, training in skills related to encountering the customer and project learning (Duration 1.9.2021- 31.6.2023).

The third work package focuses on the creation of instructional videos through which health literacy skills can be taught and studied more widely in accordance with the operating models developed and utilized in the project (Duration 1.12.2021-31.10.2022).

The fourth work package includes the writing of a handbook on health literacy, which brings together all the knowledge, skills, experiences and learning material gained during the project (Duration 1.10.2022-30.7.2023).