Health Literacy
Health literacy is defined in Healthy People 2010 as "the degree to which people can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions." But this definition is only a starting point. Health literacy is about the entire process of exchanging healthcare information. It is more than reading and writing, but also how people communicate about health through speaking, drawing pictures, and using technology. Health Literacy issues can also be caused by sensory, developmental or intellectual disabilities.
According to USA Institute of Medicine "Nearly half of all American adults - 90 million people - have difficulty understanding and using health information, and there is a higher rate of hospitalization and use of emergency services among patients with limited health literacy."
The National Library of Medicine says this to consumers "Health literacy is the ability to understand health information and to use that information to make good decisions about your health and medical care. Health information can overwhelm even people with advanced literacy skills. About one third of the adult population in the United States has limited health literacy. Limited health literacy can affect your ability to: Fill out complex forms Locate providers and services Share personal information such as health history Take care of yourself Manage a chronic disease Understand how to take medicines" from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
created 02/11/08; updated 7/15/09
About Authors, Consultants and Speakers
Health Literacy of America's Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy
Webcast was held Wednesday, August 29, 2007. Transcript is available.
"Living In The Shadows: Illiteracy in America"
World News with Charles Gibson - Special Series beginning February 25, 2007. Text available: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/LegalCenter/story?id=4336421&page=1 Video linked here.
About Plain Language
California Health Literacy Initiative
Harvard School of Public Health: Health Literacy Studies
Institute for Healthcare Advancement
Literacy Volunteers of America
Health Literacy Special Query Page for PubMed
1.Click on MEDLINE/PubMed health literacy search to run a PREFORMULATED search of daily updated MEDLINE 2. SET LIMITS and re-run the search 3. Explore other resources QUESTIONS/COMMENTS to zornm@mail.nih.gov
NIFL-Health, an online discussion group about health literacy sponsored by the National Institute for Literacy
Plain Language Action Network
Plain Language Association International
Plain Train
Easy-to-Read Resources
You can find Easy-To-Read resources on MedlinePlus®
The resources included in the MedlinePlus® pages meet the selection criteria established by the National Library of Medicine.
MedlinePlus Easy-to-Read (Spanish)
FDA Easy-to-Read
National Center for Farm Worker Health: Patient Education Materials
NIDDK Easy-to-read
MedlinePlus -- How to Write Easy-to-Read Health Materials
MEDLINEPlus - Evaluating Health Information
Important Web Links
Partnership for Clear Health Communication
NCSALL (National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy)/World Education Publications
National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) http://www.nifl.gov
Includes LINCSearch, the National LINCS Literacy Network
National Assessment of Adult Literacy
National Library of Medicine -- Health Literacy
Health topics, External Health Links, News and Other Resources
Health Literacy - for Health & Well Being (Blog)
Reflections on the importance of health literacy awareness and how it impacts nearly 50% of the US population. NOTE: Blog has move to a new blogging service.
Organizational Resources
Quick Guide to Health Literacy
This new resource is from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. This is a reference for professionals interested in health literacy. The strategies discussed in the guide reflect the current body of research in health literacy and health communication.
Healthy People 2010
Accessed October 3, 2005. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; 2000.
Partnership for Clear Health Communications
Advancing Health Communication to Positively Impact Health Outcomes. Accessed October 3, 2005.
Center on an Aging Society
(articles on Health Literacy) Accessed October 4, 2005.
AMA Foundation
Health Literacy Video for AMA Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2005
JAMA Article
Health Literacy: Report of the Council on Scientific Affairs. JAMA 1999; 281:552-557.
Center for Health Care Strategies
Impact of low health literacy skills annual health care expenditures. Fact sheet 3. Accessed October 4, 2005.
JAMA article
Schillinger D, Grumbach K, Piette J et al. ;Association of health literacy with diabetes outcomes. JAMA 2002; 288:475-482.
Questions Are the Answer -- Get More Involved With Your Health Care
Resources created by AHRQ Agency for Healtcare Research and Quality (part of the U.S.Department of Health & Human Services)
“Eating Well, Living Well”
This organizational has sought to integrate nutrition education into adult ESL classrooms.
“What Did the Doctor Say?:” Improving Health Literacy to Protect Patient Safety
This White Paper was published in 2007 from the JCAHO.
Training Resources
Culture & Health Literacy Online Training
Created by the University of Minnesota -- School of Public Health, focusing on how inequalities in health information contribute to unequal treatment and health outcomes for some populations.
Strategies To Improve Communication Between Pharmacy Staff and Patients
Health literacy training which AHRQ developed for pharmacists.
A Collection of Health Literacy Curricula
Created as a result of a discussion on the National Institute for Liteacy Health and Literacy listserv.
Literacy Assistance Center -- Adult Literacy Education Core Curriculum (ALECC)
Harvard School of Public Health - Health Literacy Studies
Department of Society, Human Development and Health
Health Literacy and Public Health
The New York-New Jersey Public Health Traing Center (NYNJ PHTC) offers a free online traing course. This course is part of the "Communicate to Make a Difference" Series. Register by visited this site
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