Introduction
Health literacy refers to individuals’ ability to find, understand, and utilize information and services that inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Personal health literacy is affected by how clearly and effectively clinicians and organizations, such as healthcare systems, insurers, and public health services, communicate the necessary information for people to comprehend and use health information.
Organizational health literacy refers to how organizations help individuals equitably find, understand, and utilize information and services to make informed health-related decisions for themselves and others. For example, when an organization provides instructions in simple, nonmedical language, delivered by trained staff who confirm understanding in a nonjudgmental manner, it demonstrates a commitment to promoting health literacy.
Health literacy can be challenging for individuals, especially when the information they receive is too complex or when they have to navigate unfamiliar and confusing processes to access services. The use of medical jargon, complicated public health websites, and intricate insurance benefit systems all contribute to a decline in health literacy.
Health literacy influences health outcomes by determining how individuals access and utilize healthcare, communicate with healthcare providers, and engage in self-care practices. Research indicates that people with adequate health literacy skills are more likely to follow recommended guidelines for cancer screenings, such as those for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. They are also more likely to ask questions and adhere to their prescribed medications compared to individuals with lower health literacy.
Low health literacy disproportionally impacts individuals with lower educational attainment, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, historically marginalized communities, older adults, and individuals with cognitive impairments. Low health literacy is associated with poorer understanding of self-care for chronic diseases, inadequate treatment adherence, worse health status, and increased risk of hospitalization and death.
Clinicians
This paper lists several actions clinicians can take to advance health literacy, including:
- Communicating in clear, simple language and avoiding medical jargon and speaking too quickly.
- Assessing the client’s understanding and gauging explanations accordingly.
- Focusing on specific actions the client should take (e.g. call this number to make an appointment).
- Limiting the amount of information provided. Focus on two to three key messages.
- Using multiple forms of communication (e.g., illustrations, videos).
- Creating an environment to encourage engagement (e.g., “What questions do you have for me?”).
- Using the teach-back method by asking clients to explain key elements of their care plan in their own words to assess their understanding.
Healthcare systems
This paper also outlines strategies for healthcare systems to improve health literacy by providing clear, plain-language health information at a 6th-grade reading level through various print and multimedia communications with all clients.
Conclusions
Addressing and reducing low health literacy is crucial for ensuring individuals understand health prevention strategies, have skills to manage their medical conditions and medications, and take behavioural actions to improve health outcomes.
