What is health literacy? Definition and resources

Doctor discussing health literacy with patient

October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month for over 25 years. Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to understand important, health-related information such as dosage amounts, consent forms, acronyms, and other common forms of medical jargon. 

As a patient, understanding health literacy, its importance, and how to improve it can be a helpful tool when navigating the medical care space. While the ultimate responsibility of making information accessible lies with the healthcare industry, there are some resources that can be helpful for patients trying to bridge this gap.

What is health literacy?

As of 2020, health literacy has been defined as a person’s ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. While the internet has made health information more well known, accessing accurate sources and easily understanding the content found online is important to improving health literacy.

Why is health literacy important?

Low health literacy, or not being able to understand and use basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions, can have a negative impact on a patient’s ability to understand their treatment and advocate for themselves. This often leads to poorer health outcomes, which happens more in older adults, racial and ethnic minorities, non-native English speakers, low-income individuals, and those with limited education.

Unfortunately, statistics estimate that nearly 88% of Americans have lower health literacy. Because everyone will need to access health information at some point in their lives, the importance of health literacy impacts everyone. Health literacy not only enables individuals to seek care when they need it, but it can also empower them to more effectively manage their health on a daily basis.

How to improve health literacy

If you or someone you love or care for is looking to improve their health literacy, consider these ideas to help you become a more informed patient or advocate: 

Ask questions during your appointments

Your doctor is there to make sure you feel comfortable with the information you are given, so you can feel confident making decisions about your health. It is important to think through the right questions to ask if you are unsure about something, and it is also important to advocate for yourself to make sure all your questions and concerns are addressed. If something a health care provider says is unclear, continue asking them questions until it makes sense.

Repeat what you are told or hear back to your doctor 

If your doctor gives guidance or instructions that you are confused by, it can be helpful to confirm what you heard by repeating them back in your own words. Your doctor will work through this information with you to make sure you understand everything correctly.

Keep a running list of questions you have when you aren’t at the doctor

With so much going on while you are there, it can be hard to think of all the questions you have while you’re sitting in your doctor’s exam room. Many times, a question or two you wish you would have remembered to ask will pop into your head as soon as you leave. If you think of questions you need to ask in between your appointments, you can keep the list on your phone or in a notebook that you bring with you next time you go for a visit. 

Always keep track of your medications.

If you take medication prescribed by your doctor, you aren’t alone. More than 131 million people — 66 percent of all adults in the United States — use prescription drugs. Sometimes, you may be taking multiple medications at once. When visiting your healthcare provider, it is a good idea to write down the names and dosages of any over-the-counter drugs, prescription medications, supplements, and vitamins that you take so they can review them. Your doctor will be able to recognize if you’re combining things that shouldn’t be taken together, which can prevent issues from arising in the future.

Bring a friend or family member with you. 

If you find yourself overwhelmed during doctor’s visits or you may be getting important information at your next appointment, bringing along a relative or close friend can be a good idea. While you are talking with the doctor, the person you brought can take notes to make sure nothing is forgotten. If you’ll be visiting a doctor who doesn’t speak your native language, the front office may be able to provide you with an interpreter if you aren’t able to bring a bilingual person with you.

Resources for understanding difficult medical terms

For individuals looking to improve their health literacy, there are many resources that can help with understanding difficult medical terms. Below are some we recommend:

At Antidote, we’re committed to improving health literacy and equity in clinical research. Our team works hard to make finding clinical trials a patient-centric process. Check out our helpful guide regarding how to read clinical trial listings, and see what trials you may be eligible for by clicking the button below.