What is Health Literacy?

www.wakehealthliteracycoalition.org

What is Health Literacy? • Health literacy is defined as the degree to which an individual

has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions*.

• The Wake Health Literacy Coalition defines health literacy in plain language as:

A person being able to find, get and use information to make good health choices, AND

A health worker being able to help someone find, get and use information to make good health choices.

*Healthy People 2010, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and the Institute of Medicine (2004)

This means people getting care can:• Make appointments • Follow instructions before and after their appointments • Read signs and maps to find their way• Understand and fill out forms• Explain the reason for their visit• Give a complete health history• Read labels• Know how to use the internet • Understand numbers • Feel good about bringing a friend, family member or

other helper to their appointment• Tell the health worker the instructions they will follow, in

their own words

This means health workers should: This helps people to:

• Use plain language• Teach patients about their

health using every day examples

• Ask patients to repeat instructions in their own words to check for understanding

• Use easy-to-read print materials

• Make appointments • Follow instructions before

and after their appointments

• Find their way• Fill out forms• Give a complete health

history• Understand labels• Use the internet • Understand numbers

Using health literacy concepts when interacting with patients leads to:

• Better health • Lower healthcare costs • Better use of the health care system

Less use of emergency room care Fewer hospitalizations

• Prevention of disease• Better disease management• Fewer medication errors• Better patient satisfaction