Approximately 22% of the U.S. adult population is functionally illiterate and an additional 25% have marginal literacy skills. Functional health literacy is a specific form of literacy which encompasses a wide range of skills required to navigate the health care system and optimize health care delivery. Inability to perform these basic skills can have a tremendous impact on the individual's level of health, health care costs, and medicolegal issues. Although low health literacy can affect every ethnic, racial, gender, and age group, there are some demographic trends. Minority groups and older adults have higher rates of illiteracy than other groups. Unfortunately, these groups are also more likely to be living in poverty. Studies have shown that users of Medicare and Medicaid are twice as likely to have inadequate or marginal literacy compared to the general population. Low health literacy levels are a tremendous obstacle to public health and to eliminating health disparities. This presentation will explain how public health practitioners can incorporate health literacy issues into community health planning and policy development. First, the various tools which can be used to assess health literacy will be presented. Next, a description of strategies which can be used to provide health materials and information to low literate populations will be provided. Lastly, methods for disseminating health information to low literate populations will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. list and describe the advantages and disadvantages of various health literacy assessment tools. 2. list and explain the various strategies which can be used to provide health information and materials to low literate populations. 3. list and describe the various methods for disseminating health information to low literate populations
Keywords: Health Literacy, Health Education Strategies
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.