Objectives: TSWBAT…

Define “Health Literacy”

Provide multiple examples of how being health literate can benefit ones wellness

Activator: What does “Health Literacy” Mean

to You?Take a moment to really think about this—if you had to define “Health Literacy” how would you?

Definitions of Health Literacy:

Health literacy is defined in Health People 2010 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". -http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/hlthlit.html

Health literacy is the ability to understand health information and to use that information to make good decisions about your health and medical care.

-Department of Health and Human Services

Explanation: Health literacy is the ability to locate (find), process (make sense of) and apply (as needed) health-related information.In order to be health literate, one needs to consider the following:

Where can reliable health-related information be found?What vocabulary is necessary to make sense of information?At what point (when) should professional support be sought?What personal information, such as health history, should be shared with health-care professionals?

Explanation continued:

What is literacy?Literacy can be defined as a person's ability to read, write, speak, and compute and solve problems at levels necessary to:

Function on the job and in societyAchieve one's goalsDevelop one's knowledge and potential

The term “illiteracy” (illiterate) means being unable to read or write. A person who has limited or low literacy skills is not illiterate.

Further Explained:Health literacy includes numeracy skills. For example, calculating cholesterol and blood sugar levels, measuring medications, and understanding nutrition labels all require math skills. Choosing between health plans or comparing prescription drug coverage requires calculating premiums, copays, and deductibles.

In addition to basic literacy skills, health literacy requires knowledge of health topics. People with limited health literacy often lack knowledge or have misinformation about the body as well as the nature and causes of disease. Without this knowledge, they may not understand the relationship between lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise and various health outcomes.

Explanation Concluded:Health information can overwhelm even persons with advanced literacy skills.

Medical science progresses rapidly. (Translation: Keep current with health information.)

What people may have learned about health or biology during their school years often becomes outdated or forgotten, or it is incomplete. (Translation: get accurate information when it is needed—do not solely rely on your past experiences or knowledge.)

Moreover, health information provided in a stressful or unfamiliar situation is unlikely to be retained. (Translation: ask for written information and/or research information about diagnosis' presented to you by a professional because you may not recall their information after the fact.)

-http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsbasic.htm

Apply…

What is your definition of health literacy? Remember that there are three distinct parts necessary in order to be health literate you need to be able to locate reliable health information, makes sense of that information and apply the information if need be—you may not utilize the third part, but it is a necessary “part” of health literacy.

Next, think of circumstances where being health literate would benefit ones wellness.

Lastly, participate in a class discussion on health literacy—provide two examples of how being health literate can benefit ones wellness. Be creative and provide two (potential) real life examples.