Introduction
Health literacy is defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions” (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2020). In other words, it is an individual’s ability to access, comprehend, evaluate, and apply health information in order to make informed decisions about their own health and the health of their family. This article explores why health literacy is important, the potential benefits associated with improved health literacy, research findings, strategies for improving health literacy, and policies aimed at improving health literacy.
Benefits of Improved Health Literacy
The potential benefits of improved health literacy are far-reaching and can benefit individuals, families, and communities.
For Individuals
Individuals who have better health literacy are more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and avoiding risky behaviors like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. They are also more likely to seek out preventive care, such as regular checkups and screenings, and to adhere to treatment plans prescribed by their healthcare providers. As a result, they may be less likely to develop chronic diseases or experience complications from existing conditions.
For Families
Improved health literacy among family members can lead to better communication and collaboration around health issues and promote healthier behaviors among family members. For example, if one family member has better health literacy and is able to identify symptoms of a particular disease, they can help educate other family members on how to prevent or manage the condition.
For Communities
At the community level, improved health literacy can help reduce disparities in health outcomes and lead to better public health outcomes. According to a study published in PLOS Medicine (Rudd et al., 2007), health literacy can have a significant impact on population health outcomes, including mortality rates, hospitalizations, and health care costs. The authors concluded that “low health literacy is an important predictor of health outcomes and should be addressed in any effort to reduce disparities in health status.”
Research Findings on Health Literacy and Public Health Outcomes
Research has shown that low health literacy is a significant problem in the United States and is especially prevalent in certain demographics. According to a survey conducted by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NCES, 2006), approximately 14 percent of adults in the United States have “below basic” health literacy and another 21 percent have “basic” health literacy. These percentages are even higher in certain populations, such as those who are elderly, low-income, or have limited English proficiency.
Low health literacy has been linked to poorer public health outcomes, including higher mortality rates, increased hospitalizations, and higher health care costs. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (Gonzalez et al., 2015) found that patients with lower health literacy were more likely to die within five years than those with higher health literacy. Similarly, a study published in Health Affairs (Kutney-Lee et al., 2017) found that patients with lower health literacy had a higher risk of hospital readmission than those with higher health literacy.
Strategies for Improving Health Literacy
Improving health literacy requires both education and access to resources. There are several strategies that can be implemented to achieve this goal.
Education
Education is key to improving health literacy. Health education programs can help individuals learn about health topics, such as nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and chronic disease management. Education programs can also provide individuals with the necessary skills to interpret health information and navigate the health care system.
Access to Resources
In addition to providing health education, it is important to ensure that individuals have access to reliable health information and resources. This includes providing access to accurate health information online, through libraries, and through community organizations. It also means providing access to health care providers who can answer questions and provide personalized advice.
Health System Changes
Changes to the health care system can also help improve health literacy. These changes include providing clear and concise information to patients, using plain language when communicating with patients, and implementing systems to ensure that health care providers are aware of and address patients’ health literacy needs.
Promoting Health Literacy among Healthcare Professionals and Patients
In order for health literacy initiatives to be successful, both healthcare professionals and patients must be involved. Here are some strategies for promoting health literacy among both groups.
Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals can promote health literacy by using plain language when communicating with patients, providing clear and concise information about health topics, and taking the time to answer patients’ questions. Additionally, healthcare professionals can provide resources to help patients find accurate health information and navigate the health care system.
Strategies for Patients
Patients can promote health literacy by asking questions, taking the time to read and understand health information, and seeking out resources to get accurate health information. Additionally, they can work with their healthcare providers to create an individualized plan for managing their health.
Policies Aimed at Improving Health Literacy
Several policies have been implemented in the United States and internationally to improve health literacy.
US Policy
In the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) included several provisions aimed at improving health literacy. These provisions include improvements to health insurance coverage and cost transparency, expansion of health education programs, and increased access to health care providers. Additionally, the ACA created the Office of Minority Health, which works to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.
International Policy
Internationally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed several initiatives to improve health literacy globally. These initiatives include developing health literacy curricula, creating guidelines for health literacy interventions, and advocating for health literacy as part of national health policies. Additionally, WHO has created several tools, such as the Health Literacy Assessment Tool and the Health Literacy Environment Checklist, to assess health literacy levels and the health literacy environment.
Stories from Individuals Who Have Experienced the Positive Effects of Better Health Literacy
Many individuals have experienced the positive effects of improved health literacy. Here are three stories from individuals who have benefited from improved health literacy.
Story 1
Kelly is a single mother of two children. After attending a local health education program, she was able to learn more about nutrition and exercise, as well as how to read food labels and identify healthy meals. With this knowledge, Kelly was able to make healthier lifestyle choices for herself and her family. She also became more aware of preventive care and now makes sure that she and her children have regular checkups and screenings.
Story 2
John is a retired teacher who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. After attending a health education program, John was able to learn more about his condition, including how to manage his diabetes and the importance of following his doctor’s treatment plan. He also learned about the importance of preventive care and began getting regular checkups and screenings. As a result, John was able to keep his diabetes under control and avoid any serious complications.
Story 3
Maria is a Spanish-speaking immigrant who recently moved to the United States. She was unaware of the importance of preventive care and had difficulty understanding her health insurance coverage. After attending a health education program and meeting with a bilingual health care provider, Maria was able to understand her health insurance coverage and begin making regular appointments for preventive care. She was also able to use her health insurance to access the medications and treatments she needed to manage her chronic condition.
Conclusion
Health literacy is an important factor in determining public health outcomes. Improved health literacy can benefit individuals, families, and communities by promoting healthier lifestyles, increasing access to preventive care, and reducing disparities in health outcomes. To improve health literacy, both healthcare professionals and patients must be engaged in health education, access to resources must be provided, and health system changes must be made. Finally, policies must be implemented to ensure that health literacy initiatives are successful.
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