Andrea Wallace
Low Health Literacy: Overview, Assessment, and Steps Toward Providing High-Quality Diabetes Care
University of Iowa
although hypotheses link literacy health outcomes published 1980s1 potential consequences limited literacy us health care settings brought attention larger clinical health policy communities study published 1995 landmark study researchers revealed dramatic statistics twothirds patients seen public hospitals united states unable comprehend key health information take medication schedule followup appointment2 hundreds studies since explored patients ability read comprehend written information encountered health care settings independently associated variety poorer health outcomesbecause low literacy common among vulnerable populations racial ethnic minorities elderly people patients chronic conditions seeking care public systems likely contributes disproportionate burden diseaserelated problems among disadvantaged vulnerable populations3 fact literacy considered role race health disparities decreases dramatically45with estimated 40 adults united states lessthanfunctional literacy6 addressing health literacy moved forefront several policy agendas aimed improving health care quality outcomesdespite growing literature topic definitions constitutes literacy health care settings continue developed refined one commonly used definitions literacy put forth us department education defines functional literacy ability use reading writing computational skills level adequate meet needs everyday situations7but commonly recognized literacy health care settings also called health literacy encompasses many unique skills functionally