Hosted by health literacy expert Dr. Michael Paasche-Orlow, community health workers participated in the first in a series of scheduled online training sessions on May 5, 2022. During the training session entitled Questions Are the Answers, Dr. Paasche-Orlow de-fined health literacy and discussed the impact of literacy on individual health outcomes. Attendees also reviewed the importance of encouraging people to ask questions and gain insight into potential health literacy barriers within our communities. Dr. Paasche-Orlow asserts that effective communication is essential in empowering people to share their truths. In alignment with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 objectives (HC/HIT-01, -02, and -03), Dr. Paasche-Orlow will provide specialized training aimed at improving understanding, communication, and informed decision-making – equipping community health workers (CHWs) with the skills necessary to empower people within their communities. 

Initially implemented by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Questions Are the Answer initiative focuses on empowering people to ask questions of their health care providers and ensure they understand the provider’s responses. To assist in these efforts, AHRQ has developed its QuestionBuilder application and online tool designed to help individuals prepare questions before meeting with their health providers. 

To access AHRQ’s QuestionBuilder application or the online tool: 

QuestionBuilder App: https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/question-builder/index.html

QuestionBuilder Online: https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/question-builder/online.html 

For additional information on the Healthy People 2030 initiative, please visit: https://health.gov/healthypeople 

Internet Citation: QuestionBuilder App. Content last reviewed June 2022. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/ques-tion-builder/index.html 

Presentation: Questions Are The Answer
Presenter: Dr. Michael Paasche-Orlow, Health Literacy Expert
Host: Ayanna Sterling, Health Literacy Program Manager (SEAAHEC)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 5, 2022, 5:00 PM CST
Location: Virtual Training (Zoom)