What Is Health Literacy and Why Do I Need It? via US News & World Report

What Is Health Literacy and Why Do I Need It?

U.S. News & World Report: 12.14.2018 by Lisa Esposito

DO YOU KNOW THE difference between an angiogram and angioplasty? Can you breeze through medical questionnaires and confidently navigate patient portals? Are you sure the insurance coverage you're choosing has the best deductible, premiums and copays – and do you understand what those terms really mean? When your sick child needs medicine in the middle of the night, are you certain you're giving the right dosage?

It's impossible for anyone to know everything they need to know about health and health care. That's where health literacy comes in. Health literacy isn't just about being able to fill out hospital forms or comprehend medical jargon. For patients, health literacy encompasses knowing what you don't know, feeling confident asking questions and knowing whom to ask. Health literacy skills help patients navigate a complex health care system and get the best results from their care.

On their end, doctors, nurses and pharmacists can do a lot to make themselves clearer. Using plain language to describe a disease process or explain a medical procedure helps. Showing parents or patients how to measure a medication helps. Providing reader-friendly pamphlets and educational material helps. Letting patients know whom to call when they have questions at home helps, too.

How Is Your Health Literacy?

Health literacy involves a range of abilities, skills and knowledge, including the following:

➧Navigating the health care system (includes filling out forms, finding appropriate providers and services).

➧Describing symptoms and sharing personal health information with providers.

➧Having health knowledge: how the body works, types of disease and disease causes.

➧Making connections between lifestyle (smoking, drinking, diet and exercise) and health.

➧Weighing risks and benefits of medical tests, procedures and treatments.

➧Managing chronic conditions and keeping up with self-care.

➧Numeracy: understanding and being able to work with numbers.

Terry Davis, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, is a pioneer in the field of health literacy.

Health literacy itself "is sort of a jargon-y term," Davis says. "It's the ability to obtain information, understand it and use it in a way that can help you make health decisions that fit for you. It's about using health information and services. The problem is nine of 10 adults can't clearly understand materials that are commonly used in health systems and the media now."  READ MORE >>

Literacy Reports & Statistics

Health

Quick Guide to Health Literacy and Older Adults, US Dept of Health & Human Services

2019: Health Literacy in the 50 States, Health IQ (an Insurance Co.)

2018: How Health Literacy Got Started, Helen Osborne

2017: Hidden Cost of Healthcare System Complexity, Accenture

2015: Health Literacy & Patient Engagement, 12th Annual Report, US HHS Sep 2015

2011: Health Literacy Interventions Outcomes: Updated Systematic Rvw, AHRQ

2010: Health Literacy, NNLM

2010: Health Literacy: Accurate Accessible Actionable Health Info. for All, CDC

2009: Reaching America’s Health Potential Among Adults, RWJ Foundation

2009: Low Health Literacy, NAAL 2003

2004: Literacy and Health in America, ETS