fbpx

Health Literacy

HEALTH

LITERACY

The term ‘health literacy’ describes a person’s ability to understand and use health information.

It includes numeracy (numbers). For example, measuring out medications to take, tablets, blood sugar levels (for people with diabetes), or understanding nutrition labels. Those with a poor level of health literacy often lack knowledge about their body, or the nature or causes of disease.

How well we understand health information affects how we are able to:

• Fill out complex forms or find health services

• Share personal information, like a health history, with health professionals

• Best manage a chronic disease

• Understand the relationship between lifestyle choices and health.

• Understand a medical diagnosis, and make decisions about treatment

• Appreciate the role lifestyle, our genes (hereditary) and the environment play in our health

• See how important screening and prevention is. For example, self-examinations, or regular GP checkups.

How well we understand health information affects how we are able to:

Communication skills of lay persons and professionals

Lay and professional knowledge of health topics

Demands of the healthcare and public health systems

Demands of the situation/context

Language and literacy skills

Culture

CANCARE NAVIGATORS

HELP IMPROVE HEALTH LITERACY BY

Communication skills of lay persons and professionals

Lay and professional knowledge
of health topics

Culture

Demands of the healthcare and
public health systems

Demands of the situation/context

Language and literacy skills

INTERVIEW

PROF. DON NUTBEAM ON HEALTH LITERACY

Close Bitnami banner
Bitnami