Is health affected by illiteracy?
Illiteracy has a direct impact on human health. It prevents people from being able to read the instructions on a medicine bottle. It means that people are less likely to know facts about AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases.
How many people are health illiterate in the US?
Nearly 36 percent of adults in the U.S. have low health literacy, with disproportionate rates found among lower-income Americans eligible for Medicaid. Individuals with low health literacy experience greater health care use and costs compared to those with proficient health literacy.
Why is health illiteracy a problem?
Why Do We Have a Health Literacy Problem? People need information they can understand and use to make the best decisions for their health. When organizations or people create and give others health information that is too difficult for them to understand, we create a health literacy problem.
What is the health literacy in the US?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.”1, 2Adequate health literacy may include being able to read and comprehend …
How does low literacy affect healthcare?
Low health literacy has been associated with nonadherence to treatment plans and medical regimens, poor patient self-care, high health-care costs, and increased risk of hospitalization and mortality.
What problems does illiteracy cause?
Illiteracy has a negative impact on society Low levels of literacy cost the U.S. an estimated $225 billion in workforce productivity losses, crime, and unemployment-related loss of tax revenue, according to ProLiteracy. Illiteracy also results in expenses for federal and state welfare programs.
Who has the lowest health literacy in the US?
Adults who aged 65 and older had the lowest average health literacy when compared with the other age groups. Adults aged 25–39 had higher average health literacy when compared with the other groups. Adults aged 65 and older had the lowest percentage of those with intermediate health literacy.
What populations are the most at risk for health issues created by low health literacy?
Low health literacy is particularly common among older people (>60 years), who are also the age group most likely to be affected by chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease.
How can a patients knowledge of their health risk affect their health?
Knowing the risks you and your family may face can help you find ways to avoid health problems. It can also keep you from fretting over unlikely threats. Knowing the risks and benefits of a medical treatment can help you and your doctor make informed decisions.
What are the principles of health literacy?
Principles of Health Literacy. Health literacy is “the ability to access, understand, evaluate and communicate information as a way to promote, maintain and improve health in a variety of settings across the life-course.” . Health literacy is dependent on person and system factors, including: Knowledge of health topics,
Why is health literacy related to health?
Health literacy has emerged as an important factor related to health in older persons. The reason for the link between health literacy and health outcomes is not clear. Possible explanations include common relations among income, education, access to health care, health-promotion behaviors, frequency of reading , and perceptual impairments.
Who is health literacy?
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.1. Health literacy is dependent on individual and systemic factors: Communication skills of lay persons and professionals.
What is a health literacy screening tool?
A Health Literacy Assessment Tool for Patient Care and Research The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) is a valid and reliable screening tool available in English and Spanish that identifies patients at risk for low health literacy. It is easy and quick to administer, requiring just three minutes.