More than 93 million American adults have some degree of difficulty in reading. This lack of comprehension includes health information. Much health information including insurance forms and prescription labels contains complex text. Even literate people may have trouble using health information.
Health literacy is the way people use information and services they need to make correct decisions about their health. Health literacy also depends upon doctors, nurses, home health workers, and many others. Health literacy is a combination of education, health services, and other factors.
To build a bridge between persons whose risks for poor medical outcomes are exacerbated by limited literacy and to improve the efficiency of limited health care resources, Literacy ConneXus proposes a model based on providing literacy services to persons participating in congregation-based health clinics. The services would include basic literacy or ESL as appropriate as well as instruction in health literacy information.
For additional information about health literacy, see these web sites:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/
http://www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com
For assistance in developing a health literacy component in your literacy ministry or health clinic, contact Literacy ConneXus.