Health literacy

Health literacy refers to the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. It is a fundamental skill that greatly influences health outcomes. It is not only the ability to read, but also to understand and use health information to make decisions and follow instructions for treatment.

Definition

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. Health literacy implies the achievement of a level of knowledge, personal skills and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions.

Importance of Health Literacy

Health literacy is important because it shapes people’s health and the safety and quality of health care. Low health literacy was reported to be a stronger predictor of a person’s health than age, income, employment status, education level, and race.

Factors Affecting Health Literacy

Several factors can influence health literacy, including education, language, culture, access to resources, and age.

Improving Health Literacy

Improving health literacy requires effort from all parties involved, including healthcare providers, patients, and policy makers.

See Also

• Health education
• Patient education
• Public health

References

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