Functional literacy, the ability to use the written word for everyday tasks, is an issue of major concern to those of us in public health and most especially to those of us engaged in community based work. Findings from the first national survey of functional literacy among adults in the US have alerted us to the fact that about half of the US adult population has low or limited functional literacy skills. Increased attention has been given to this issue over this past decade; however, the research emphasis has been on issues related to literacy in medical care setting. Literacy based limitations on people's ability to engage in health promoting action, in advocacy and community engagement for healthful change, in disease prevention and/or in occupational health and safety have not been adequately discussed or studied. This panel discussion focuses on an expanded notion of functional public health literacy. We will begin with a brief overview of medical and public health literature addressing literacy issues from the 1970s through the present time. The panel, with audience participation, will focus on gaps and delineate public health concerns not yet addressed. We will then examine implications for a broad range of public health communications [at home, in the community, at work, and in the policy arena] and begin to set an agenda for exploring public health literacy.
See www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to define public health literacy. 2. Participants will be able to summarize the scope and focus of public health and medical research related to literacy over the past three decades. 3. Participants will enage in and contribute to a delineation of needed public health inquiries into literacy related barriers to full engagement.
Keywords: Literacy, Communication
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.