Only 12 percent of adults have adequate health literacy. Low health literacy has been linked to poor healthcare outcomes, which leads to higher healthcare costs. Healthcare organizations must also be health literate to reduce the stress and demands placed on patients.
In part one of our health communication article series, we already discussed the importance of clear communication between patient and provider that leads to accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions.
But what if a person can’t understand the health information and services needed to make good health decisions?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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.”
This includes the ability to understand instructions on prescriptions, doctor’s directions and medical education brochures, as well as digitally sharing personal information with providers and engaging in self-care and chronic-disease management.
Only 12 percent of adults have adequate health literacy, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy. Low health literacy has been linked to poor healthcare outcomes (higher rates of hospitalization, less frequent use of preventive services), which leads to higher healthcare costs. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion estimates the annual cost of limited health literacy is $1.6 to $3.6 trillion.
(source: https://health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsbasic.htm)
“Many of the same people who are at risk for limited health literacy also have health disparities. Health disparities are health differences between different groups of people. These groups may be based on age, race, gender, or other factors.”
(source: https://medlineplus.gov/healthliteracy.html)
According to a 2019 Medial Expenditure Panel Survey, immigration status had the strongest negative association with health literacy level. Immigration status may have been influenced by factors like insurance status, health system utilization patterns, and English language proficiency.
Low health literacy can result in medication errors; low rates of treatment compliance due to poor communication between providers and patients; reduced use of preventive services and unnecessary emergency room visits; ineffective management of chronic conditions; longer hospital stays and increased hospital re-admissions; poor responsiveness to public health emergencies; and higher mortality.
(source: https://www.chcs.org/media/What_is_Health_Literacy.pdf)
Health literacy is highly important. People make choices about their health every day: what to eat, what to drink, when to see a doctor, etc. To stay healthy, individuals must know how to read and understand the labels on food and medicine, report symptoms to health professionals, understand insurance paperwork, and pay medical bills.
These tasks can feel complicated and overwhelming and are rarely taught by educational and social institutions. The consequences not only affect individuals and families, but also healthcare delivery systems unable to provide safe and effective services; and governments, employers, insurers, and patients facing higher costs.
Health literacy does not lie only in the hands of the individual patient. Healthcare organizations must also be health literate to reduce the stress and demands placed on patients.
Health literacy paves the way for health equity. We need to ensure that all patients receive the full benefits from our advanced healthcare system.
Contact us to learn more.
Resources:
https://www.chcs.org/media/What_is_Health_Literacy.pdf
https://health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsbasic.htm
