What is Health Literacy and Why It Matters?

Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, and use health information and services to make informed decisions about health. It’s a critical skill that allows people to manage their own health and make informed choices about their care.

Unfortunately, many Americans lack basic health literacy skills. A recent study found that only 12% of Americans can adequately understand and use health information. This means that millions of people are struggling to understand their health insurance policies, prescriptions, and other important health information.

The Consequences of Low Health Literacy

Low health literacy has serious consequences for individuals and the health care system as a whole. People with low health literacy are more likely to:

– Experience difficulty navigating the healthcare system
– Make poor health decisions
– Have worse health outcomes
– Be hospitalized
– Die prematurely

What Can Be Done to Increase Health Literacy?

There are a number of things that can be done to increase health literacy, including:

– Providing clear and concise health information: Health information should be written in plain language that is easy to understand.
– Using visuals and other aids: Visuals and other aids can help to make health information more accessible and engaging.
– Offering health literacy training: Health literacy training can help people to develop the skills they need to find, understand, and use health information.
– Empowering patients: Patients should be encouraged to ask questions and to be involved in their own care.

Conclusion

Health literacy is a critical skill that allows people to manage their own health and make informed choices about their care. Unfortunately, many Americans lack basic health literacy skills. This has serious consequences for individuals and the health care system as a whole. There are a number of things that can be done to increase health literacy, including improving health communication, providing health literacy training, and empowering patients. By working together, we can ensure that everyone has the skills they need to make informed decisions about their health.

Call To Action

If you are interested in learning more about health literacy, we encourage you to visit the following resources:

[Link to reputable health literacy resources]