“The degree to which individuals have the capacity to

obtain,

process,

understand

basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”

HEALTH LITERACY

HEALTH LITERACYHealth literacy is dependent on:

Communication skills Knowledge of health topics Culture Demands of healthcare systems Demands of the situation

2

Ability to perform:

Understand appointment slipsFollow instructions on medication labelsObtain information about an illnessParticipate in discussions of informed

consentEnroll in health insurance plan

HEALTH LITERACY

http://www.cholesterol.co.za/professional/lipitor_package_insert.htm

HEALTH LITERACY

Limited health literacy skills1. Higher utilization a. Hospitalization b. Emergency services

2. Lower utilization a. Preventive services

Results in higher healthcare costs

5

HEALTH LITERACY

Who is at risk? Older adultsThe poorLimited educationMinority populationsLimited English proficiency (LEP)

6

HEALTH LITERACY

Who is at risk?Many at risk, suffer from disparities inhealth status, andillnesses (heart disease, diabetes,

obesity, HIV/AIDS, oral disease, cancer deaths, and low birth weight), and death.

7

HEALTH LITERACY

limited health literacy skills:1. have more chronic conditions 2. Less disease management skills3. less knowledge of their illness

diabetes, asthmaHIV/AIDShigh blood pressure, etc

8

HEALTH LITERACY

limited health literacy skills: 1. more preventable hospital visits and admissions.2. report their health as “poor.”

9

HEALTH LITERACY1. Predicted inpatient spending was $993 higher

for persons with inadequate health literacy2. additional healthcare resources attributable to

inadequate health literacy were a. $29 billion b. $69 billion for marginally health literate

.

10

HEALTH LITERACYAmerican Cancer Report 2011 found:

“We found that almost 37% of cancer deaths could have beend avoided in 2007 alone if everyone experienced the same death rate as Americans with higher education status.”

“In 2007 the cancer death rate among the least educated Americans was 2.6 times higher than death rate among the most educated.”

“The death rate from lung cancer was five times higher among the least educated Americans than the most educated.”