Question
What is health literacy, and why is it important for individuals in managing their health?
Answer
Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. This includes tasks such as choosing a healthcare provider, understanding medication instructions, interpreting insurance information, and managing chronic conditions. Health literacy is crucial because individuals with low health literacy may struggle to follow medical instructions, manage their health conditions, or navigate the healthcare system, leading to poorer health outcomes, increased healthcare costs, and greater health disparities.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, 'Health Literacy in Practice: Effective Communication and Education', presented by Kathleen D. Weissberg, OTD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP, CFPS, CGCS.
Continued and its subsidiaries provide professional education authored by qualified Subject Matter Experts for continuing education purposes. These materials are intended for educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice or a substitute for individual clinical judgment. Continued is not a clinical healthcare provider; the licensed professional is solely responsible for ensuring that the application of any techniques or information presented is within their legal scope of practice and jurisdictional requirements.
