Health Literacy and Oral Health

This section of the panel discussion focuses on Health Literacy and Oral Health. Over 800 studies in public health, medicine, and oral health indicate that most health related materials are inaccessible to about half of U.S. adults. A mismatch between literacy skills of individuals and the demands of oral health materials and services may erect an unnecessary barrier to preventive care and treatment. Findings from the 1992 and the 2003 surveys of adult literacy in the U.S. indicate that half of all adults and more than two-thirds of adults over the age of 60 are limited in their ability to use written health materials in prose format, had problems finding and processing quantitative information, and were limited in their ability to use documents such as forms, lists, charts, and graphs. Thus, many U.S. adults face barriers to oral care, to needed information, to full participation in decision makings and informed consent, and for follow-up activities. Alice Horowitz has actively contributed to the development of a research agenda in oral health literacy. These contributions will be highlighted as will the emerging agenda in both research and practice related to oral health promotion and health literacy.