What is health literacy?
Health literacy is about people having enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information. (source: Health Education England). This allows them to be active partners in their care, and to use health and social care systems. People working in health and social care need to be aware of health literacy and use techniques that can help to increase understanding.
Why is health literacy important?
In England 43% of adults (18-65) do not have adequate literacy skills to routinely understand health information. 61% of adults (18-65) do not have adequate numeracy skills to routinely understand health information (Ref: Rowlands, G. et al (2015) British Journal of General Practice 65 e379-e386). Adults who have low language, literacy and numeracy skills, and their children and families, suffer the worst health outcomes in society
Types of health literacy
There are three levels of health literacy. People need the basis of functional health literacy before they develop the further levels of health literacy.
Functional
The basic skills needed to function in everyday life and typical healthcare interactions, e.g.
- the ability to read appointment letters;
- understand time;
- follow simple medicine instructions.
Interactive health literacy
The ability to interpret and balance information from different sources as part of decision-making process. To have the confidence and motivation to seek out information and make decisions.
Critical health literacy
The ability to evaluate information critically and challenge treatment options. To have an understanding of the links between health outcomes and broader social, cultural and economic factors.
What are the impacts of low health literacy?
| Impact on wellbeing | Impact on Illness | Impact on Services | Impact on NHS |
| More unhealthy behaviours – eg: alcohol misuse, poor diet, smokingFewer healthy behaviours – good diet, normal weightLower response to public healthy living campaigns | Have higher mortalityHave more difficulty managing medicationHave a higher prevalence of long-term conditionsAre less likely to engage with disease prevention (e.g. cancer screening, immunisation) | Are more likely to miss appointmentsWaste medicationUse services inappropriately (e.g. greater use of A&E)Are more likely to be hospitalised/need longer in hospital | Are more likely to miss GP appointments (in excess of £162 million a year)Are more likely to miss outpatient hospital appointments (£109 each x 6.9 million)Are more likely to waste medication (£300 million per year)Inappropriately use A&E (£136million per year)Call unnecessary emergency ambulance (£455 per call out) |
Health Literacy Awareness Training
Do you want to help our patients to better understand, access and use health information so they can make informed decisions about their health? Health Literacy Awareness training offers healthcare professionals an opportunity to better understand what health literacy is. You can contact us to book 1-1 training or group training to your team/department.
This course is aimed at anyone with a role in providing information to patients and carers, or who has a responsibility in planning and shaping services.
