Ongoing Activity in Health Literacy at the University of California at Berkeley

This research is designed to examine the influence on a patient's health literacy of culture and education or knowledge within the framework of a complex health care system. Health literacy is one of four information domains in a social review that health care providers should conduct in their general assessment of a patient. Low literacy is associated with poorer health status, low rates of compliance with complicated medication regimens, high hospitalization rates, overuse of emergency services, and under-use of preventive health services. Culture is linked to health literacy by the values and language barriers that shape the perception and processing of health information. A broad conceptualization of the education system at the University of California at Berkeley includes ongoing adult education and experiences.