Health Literacy: What Is It?

Abstract

The concept of health literacy evolved from a history of defining, redefining, and quantifying the functional literacy needs of the adult population. Along with these changes has come the recognition that sophisticated literacy skills are increasingly needed to function in society and that low literacy may have an effect on health and health care. We present a brief history of literacy in the United States, followed by a discussion of the origins and conceptualization of health literacy. Increased attention to this important issue suggests the need to review existing definitions of the term "health literacy," because despite the growing interest in this field, one question that persists is, "What is health literacy?"

Nurse communication in health education: Patients’ perspective

“…[3] On the other hand, Berkman N, et al in 2010 mentioned that the clever nurse is competent in the following health education skills: reading and understanding written text, locating and interpreting information in documents, writing or completing forms, and speaking and listening effectively. [21] As well, the World Health Organization in 2003 described that patient education and counseling with health professionals represents the state of the art of education; not only conversation about general health requirements for potential users of health care, but also including patient rights and ethical issues, behavioral means, techniques of communication and teaching, learning methodologies and informational technology. [3,22] Although, both male and female patients selected and gave agreement for negative statements, they also were in favor of nurses.…”

Gesundheitskompetenz von Erwachsenen in Deutschland

“…Die ersten ursprünglich aus den 1990er-Jahren in den USA stammenden Konzeptionen von GK wurden vielfäl-tig weiterentwickelt [5]. Viele umfassen Grundkompetenzen wie Lesen, Schreiben und Rechnen sowie die Kenntnis von gesundheitsrelevantem Wissen und darüber hinaus dessen Einordnung und Bewertung, um gesundheitsbezogene Entscheidungen zu treffen.…”

Young adult health literacy on health promotion as social determinant of health: Challenges for health education practice in Lithuania

“…Having analysed them, the scientists [25][26][27][28] show that this concept is expanding from a narrow immutable understanding towards a renewing and multidimensional concept, which changes all lifelong. It is gradually changing from an individual towards communal level.…”