What´s Health Literacy?

Advancing health literacy is a necessity, for both health professionals and the overall population. Health literacy isn’t only deemed on the level of education one has completed, it has numerous aspects to it. Having a proficient level of health literacy means one knows how to fill out forms/understand forms, knowing/having an idea of medications, reasons for and the risks and benefits associated, having a understanding of where to go for information and how to interpret content appropriately. One with poor health literacy is more likely to state their health as poor, compared to one with good health literacy. Health literacy levels change at different age populations, as they all have different history and needs, such as older adults not keeping up with technology over the years, so use of internet may not be in their lives – showing that health literacy needs to be assessed throughout the different population ages and at ‘milestones’, it also shows evidence that education towards health literacy is a must.

Health Literacy has been defined 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 means more than being able to read pamphlets and successfully make appointments. (World health organization) it is also seen as an outcome of health education, and improving health literacy may be one way of addressing the social determinants of health (Health literacy and primary health care, pg.1) Health literacy affects ones ability to fill out forms, knowing location of services, can make sharing own personal information difficult such as past health records and past medications, if l...

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...the health literacy in the future due to the currently limited ability to assess and capture all aspects of health literacy (Current programs and future needs in health literacy in older people) Health professionals need to keep in mind numerous factors when assessing level of health literacy, as measurements have the capability to cause harm through the patients shame, causing embarrassment and feelings of shame. This needs to be a big part of the health professionals practice as the misuse and cause of feelings stated above, may result in poorer rather than better health outcomes.

In advancing health literacy, health professionals have the chance to improve overall wellbeing, allow patients to choose the right decisions about treatment, know how to find information, and be educated at a level that they are actually proficient and understand what is being said.