Health literacy revisited: what do we mean and why does it matter?

‘Health literacy’ refers to accessing, understanding and using information to make health decisions. However, despite its introduction into the World Health Organization's Health Promotion Glossary, the term remains a confusing concept. We consider various definitions and measurements of health...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion international 2009-09, Vol.24 (3), p.285-296
Main Authors: Peerson, Anita, Saunders, Margo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Australian literature
Comprehension
DEBATE
Educational Measurement
Health care
Health Education
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
health literacy
Health promotion
Humans
Measurement
medical literacy
Motivation
Preventive health care
Review Literature as Topic
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Summary:‘Health literacy’ refers to accessing, understanding and using information to make health decisions. However, despite its introduction into the World Health Organization's Health Promotion Glossary, the term remains a confusing concept. We consider various definitions and measurements of health literacy in the international and Australian literature, and discuss the distinction between the broader concept of ‘health literacy’ (applicable to everyday life) and ‘medical literacy’ (related to individuals as patients within health care settings). We highlight the importance of health literacy in relation to the health promotion and preventive health agenda. Because health literacy involves knowledge, motivation and activation, it is a complex thing to measure and to influence. The development of health literacy policies will be facilitated by better evidence on the extent, patterns and impact of low health literacy, and what might be involved in improving it. However, the current lack of consensus of definitions and measurement of health literacy will first need to be overcome.
ISSN:0957-4824
1460-2245
DOI:10.1093/heapro/dap014