Health literacy is essential for patients to be able to take control and manage their own health. The benefits of being health literate include
greater patient safety, less hospitalizations, a greater ability to care for oneself, and a greater cost savings to the healthcare system
.
What is health literacy and how can it impact patients?
Low health literacy is a key contributor to health care disparities
. Research has shown that, in most contexts, health literacy is a more important predictor of health than race, socioeconomic status, or educational attainment.
How does poor health literacy impact the health care system?
Low health literacy has been associated with
nonadherence to treatment plans and medical regimens, poor patient self-care, high health-care costs, and increased risk of hospitalization and mortality
.
What does health literacy mean in health?
Health literacy is
the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions
.
How does literacy affect health promotion?
For example, individuals with low literacy may not be able to understand prescription labels—but
an organization that values health literacy makes it a priority to implement systems and interventions such as visual aids and counseling that increase understanding and thereby advance patient safety
.
Why is health literacy important in primary health care?
It provides high quality services that are easy to access and navigate and gives clear and relevant health messages so that everyone living in New Zealand can effectively manage their own health, keep well and live well.”
How is health literacy defined by Healthy People 2030?
Health literacy occurs
when a society provides accurate health information and services that people can easily find, understand, and use to inform their decisions and actions
.
What is an example of health literacy?
Examples of personal health literacy include
understanding prescription drug instructions, understanding doctor’s directions and consent forms, and the ability to navigate the complex healthcare system
.
How does health literacy affect health directly or indirectly?
Literacy
directly influences the ability of people to be able to access and to make effective use of the health care system
. Health information. People with low literacy skills have limited access to health information, including both written and verbal information.
Why is literacy critical to patient’s health?
It is critical for patients to develop health literacy
so that they can take a more proactive role in their health
. When patients are actively engaged, they are able to make more informed decisions which increases patient satisfaction, adherence, and can ultimately improve outcomes.
How does education and literacy affect health?
Education and literacy. Generally, being well-educated equates to a better job, higher income, greater health literacy, a wider understanding of the implications of unhealthy behaviour and an increased ability to navigate the health care system – all of which lead to better health.
Why health literacy is a critical public health issue?
Limited health literacy is
negatively associated with physical and mental health outcomes
, including the use of preventive services; management of chronic conditions; self-reported health; misunderstanding of prescription medication instructions; medication errors; poor comprehension of nutrition labels; and mortality.
What is health literacy and why is it important?
Health literacy
can help us prevent health problems, protect our health, and better manage health problems when they arise
. They aren’t familiar with medical terms or how their bodies work. They have to interpret statistics and evaluate risks and benefits that affect their health and safety.
How can health care literacy be improved?
Speak more slowly when providing instructions. Be respectful and clear without being patronizing. Use graphics and pictures instead of long written instructions. Provide information at an appropriate grade level
.
Who is responsible for improving health literacy?
CDC
created a health literacy plan to improve how we develop and share health information and provide public health services to different audiences. We need this plan because limited health literacy is a national public health issue that affects almost 9 out of 10 adults.
What skills do health literacy patients need?
Health literacy is the use of a wide range of skills that improve the ability of people to act on information in order to live healthier lives. These skills include
reading, writing, listening, speaking, numeracy, and critical analysis, as well as communication and interaction skills
.”
