What is health literacy?

Health literacy is the ability to use, find, and understanding health information to make informed decisions about your health.

What are the parts of health literacy?

Understanding a health diagnosis and what to expect as your experience of the diagnosis and treatment
Understanding medications, their side effects, why you have been prescribed that drug vs another, how you’ve been instructed to take a medication
Knowing how to read a pill bottle or other patient instructions
Knowing how to read and understand your test results ( labs and other studies)
Knowing how to look up health information (videos, websites, articles)
Knowing how to ask questions of your health providers
Understanding how to use healthcare devices and tools (i.e. blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, glucometers, etc.)
Knowing how to evaluate, find your way, and chose health insurance/plans and health access