What is health literacy?
Health literacy reflects a person’s ability to find, understand, and use health information. It also refers to how well health professionals and organizations provide clear information so patients can make informed decisions about their health.
Health care can be confusing. Health literacy gives us the lens and the tools to make health information clear and accessible for all.
Why does health literacy matter?
People need to be able to find, understand, and use information to make good health decisions. Yet many people lack the skills to do this, and their health suffers.
Many Struggle with Health Information
3 out of 5 people struggle to find, understand, and use health information.
Even Skilled People Face Challenges
Even those with strong skills struggle when they feel sick or stressed.
Limited Skills Lead to Worse Health Outcomes
People with limited skills have worse outcomes, with more ER visits and less use of routine care.
Benefits of Improving Health Literacy
When we make information easier to understand and use, it benefits everyone. Improving health literacy leads to:
- Better care
- Lower costs
- Higher satisfaction
- Improved health
- Reduced disparities
- Healthier communities