Importance of Health Literacy

Health Literacy is an extraordinarily essential, in which all people should be educated on. Health literacy is important to both patients and their providers. About 90 million Americans are at risk because of their misunderstanding and difficulty acting on health information. In addition about 45% of the United States have only basic or below basic health literacy. Health literacy is “the ability to read, understand and act upon health information. It is now known to be vital to good patient care and positive health outcomes”. When patients understand and act upon health information it empowers the patient and in turn supports health care providers and their work. Health literacy leads to an increase in positive health outcomes which are always good for all.
Health literacy has a couple different components that are essential for it to work properly. Health literacy includes patients to be able to do all of the following: understand the mathematical aspects of health like risks and probability, share personal information like health history to their providers, increase self care and management, and be able to properly use the health care system and all the components it includes. Ways to complete these goals, and create a more health literate community, can be done in a number of ways. The first most important aspect is for providers to speak to their patients in plain language. Telling patients the most important things, breaking information into chunks, and using simple language are a couple ways that providers can do this. Another way to get closer to more health literacy is to educate more patients. Many patients are not educated on health subjects. If the doctors teach some general health practices and gives some sources of where to find more, people can become more all around health educated. Another barrier that is a problem with health literacy is race and ethnicity. Often times American providers do not know traditions, signs of respect, or languages of other cultures which in turn can make a bad visit for the patient. If the person feels disrespected, misunderstood, or mistreated communication is impossible. Doctors need to be more open, try talking to patients more, learn more about different cultures, and in general try their best to make visits as comfortable as possible. If these components were thought about by patients and doctors health literacy rates would grow.
Why is health literacy important? Health literacy is important for two reasons. The first reason is because of the money that is used every year in the United States because of low health literacy rates. It is estimated that $106 billion to $236 billion dollars is spent annually because of low health literacy. This is enough money for all 47 million people without insurance to be insured. Financially, low health literacy is really hurting our nation as a whole. If health literacy was higher, these costs could be cut tremendously, but everyone would have to do their part. Not only are the costs alone a problem due to health literacy but the health of people in general is at risk due to low health literacy. “Health literacy is more of a stronger predictor of a person's health than age, income, employment status, educational level, and race”. It is obvious that the less you know about anything, the more likely you are to do it improperly or cause complications or risks. The same is for low health literacy. The less knowledge the more risks. This just goes to show how important the topic of health literacy actually is, however it is often overlooked. Patients and health care providers have gotten into some bad habits that definitely need to be changed in order to heighten the rate of health literacy in the United States. This has become a growing problem within the United States and the worst part about it is that health literacy is easily prevented through a little communication.

Sources:

Bauman, D. (2007). New report estimates cost of low health literacy between $106-238 billion annually. Retrieved September 23, 2009 from National Patient Safety Foundation: http://www.npsf.org/pr/pressrel/2007-10-11.php.

Quick guide to health literacy: Fact sheet. (2003). Retrieved September 23, 2009 from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Literacy Basics: http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsbasic.htm.

Statistics at a glance. (2008). Retrieved September 23, 2009 from Pfizer, Clear Health Communication Initiative: http://www.clearhealthcommunication.com/media/stats-at-a-glance2.html.