What is health education literacy?

The CDC defines health literacy as “the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.” In essence, health literacy is the end goal to strong patient education.

How can I improve my health literacy?

Use Plain Language. An important strategy for improving health literacy is to use plain language in both verbal and written communications. According to plainlanguage.gov, plain language should ensure that users can find what they need, understand what they find, and use what they find to meet their needs.

How education can affect health?

The contribution of education on long term health has been described in terms of: ‘both potentiating and protective; it can trigger healthier futures, mitigate social stressors, and provide access to employment opportunities and life chances that could protect individuals from later-life disadvantage.

What are the types of health literacy?

The different types of health literacy—functional, interactive and critical health literacy—are considered.

How do you promote health promotion?

The five strategies set out in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion are essential for success:

  1. build healthy public policy.
  2. create supportive environments.
  3. strengthen community action.
  4. develop personal skills.
  5. reorient health services.

How do you ensure patient understanding?

Four Steps to Assess Health Literacy and Improve Patient Understanding

  1. Communicate clearly. The first step in health literacy involves clear communication, which can move beyond traditional methods of talking and writing.
  2. Confirm understanding.
  3. Be creative.
  4. Clarify and question.

What are health promotion concepts?

It incorporates five key action areas in health promotion (build healthy public policy, create supportive environments for health, strengthen community action for health, develop personal skills and reorient health services) and three basic HP strategies (to enable, mediate and advocate).