Health literacy assessment in the clinic: benefits, pitfalls and practicalities

Abstract

Approximately 60% of Australians have low or marginal health literacy, which is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with chronic disease. Patient-centred strategies (such as reduced medical jargon, use of pictograms, multimedia narratives) are effective in improving outcomes for many chronic diseases, with the impact being greatest in individuals with low health literacy. However, clinicians need a reliable and practical tool for assessing health literacy, the results of which help inform the choice of communication techniques best tailored to deliver information to patients. This article reviews the evidence of health literacy as an independent predictor of poor disease outcomes, describes feasible methods for assessing health literacy and presents communication strategies aimed at facilitating shared decision-making among those with low health literacy.

Global conflict escalation during the pandemic, climate, and economic dilemmas: Healthcare sustainability challenges in conflict zones and elsewhere

“…Poor health literacy still prevails in wealthy and dominant countries: Unfortunately, many European citizens lack health literacy, limiting their ability to make decisions about their own, their families', and their communities' health and well-being (WHO, Regional Committee for Europe, 2019). Even low health literacy (Figure 1) is reported in nearly 40% of US (Emerson et al, 2022) and UK adults (Public Health England, 2015); 60% of the older population in the EU (Shebehe et al, 2022); 60% of the adult populations in Canada (Kyabaggu et al, 2022); Australia (Ellender et al, 2022); the UAE (Ibrahim & Nair, 2021); and more than 70% in China (Li et al, 2022). Despite long-term improvements in health indicators like mortality and morbidity, there are still problems with the provision of healthcare in many low-and middle-income countries.…”

Healthcare Challenges due to Global Conflict Escalation Amid the Pandemic, Climate, and Economic Dilemmas

“…Unfortunately, many European citizens lack health literacy, limiting their ability to make decisions about their own, their families', and their communities' health and wellbeing (WHO, Regional Committee for Europe, 2019). Even low health literacy (Figure 2) is reported in nearly 40% of US (Emerson et al, 2022) and UK adults (Public Health England, 2015); 60% of the older population in the EU (Shebehe et al, 2022); 60% of the adult populations in Canada (Kyabaggu et al, 2022); Australia (Ellender et al, 2022); the UAE (Ibrahim & Nair, 2021); and more than 70% in China (Li et al, 2022). Despite long-term improvements in health indicators like mortality and morbidity, there are still problems with the provision of healthcare in many low-and middle-income countries.…”

Global Health Issues With Conflict Escalation Among Pandemic, Climate, and Economic Crises

“…Even low health literacy (Fig. 1) is reported in nearly 40% of US [300] and UK adults [301], 60% of the older population in the EU [302], 60% of the adult populations in Canada [303], Australia [304], the UAE [305], and more than 70% in China [306]. Despite long-term improvements in health indicators such as mortality and morbidity, there are still problems with the provision of healthcare in many low-and middleincome countries.…”