What does “health literacy” mean?
Health literacy is the ability to understand health information and be able to the information to make good decisions about your health and medical care, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Health literacy is an individual's ability to understand and utilize various health services and information. This typically relates to a patient’s ability to take medications properly, to understand and use the information their provider is giving them and to choose between two different insurance plans, and basically, to make the best or soundest decisions they can when it comes to their medical care. We found that patients who don't have the health literacy they need, under-utilize medical care, don't search out the appropriate amount of preventative services that they need, have more hospitalizations and overall their health is poorer. Oftentimes, patients have no experience navigating the healthcare system and they kind of get lost in the shuffle. Maybe they're too embarrassed to ask their doctor for help and that's a lot of times, where us, as care providers, need to offer a hand, and, and make sure that, that the individual or patient is able to navigate through things.
About nine out of 10 adults in the U.S. have trouble using everyday health information that is routinely available in healthcare facilities, media and their communities, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP).
Limited health literacy is associated with poor health and high healthcare costs, according to the ODPHP. A lack of health literacy negatively affects how people search for and use health information and whether they adopt healthy behavior.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), having a limited health literacy can affect your ability to:
- Fill out complex forms
- Locate providers and services
- Manage a chronic disease
- Share personal information, such as health history
- Take care of yourself
- Understand how to take medicines
- To learn more about health literacy and how to improve yours, talk with your doctor.
Learn more:
Source: Joseph Allen, MD, Family Medicine of Vandalia; Christopher Aviles, MD, Beavercreek Family Physicians; Michael Dulan, MD, Dulan and Moore Dulan Family Wellness Center; Aleda Johnson, MD, Liberty Family Medicine; Josh Ordway, MD, Franklin Family Practice; Joseph Leithold, MD, Woodcroft Family Practice; Melinda Ruff, MD, Centerville Family Medicine; Anessa Alappatt, MD, Fairborn Medical Center; Jennifer Romaker, NP-C, Fairfield Road Physician Offices
