Health Education Vs Health Literacy
Level 1 functional health literacy reflects the outcome of traditional health education based on the communication of factual information on health risks and on how to use the health system.
Health education vs health literacy. She has asked me if education level can be separated out from overall health literacy of a patient and is there data or research available that speaks to the relationship between an individual s education level and their level of health literacy. This is also the definition that was included in healthy people 2010 and 2020. Patient education helps improve health literacy.
Thus health literacy means more than being able to read pamphlets and make appointments. Health literacy not all patient education is created equal. As such improving health literacy may be a useful strategy for reducing disparities in health related to education as health literacy appears to play a role in explaining the underlying mechanism driving the.
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. Literacy and health people who read at lower levels are generally 1 5 to 3 times more likely to have an adverse health outcome as people who read at higher levels removing the numerous barriers to achievement of primary education will be a crucial part of action on the social determinants of health literacy has central role in. Health literacy as a discrete form of literacy is becoming increasingly important for social economic and health development.
By improving people s access to health information and their capacity to use it effectively. Health consumers are bombarded with tweets alerts fake news contradictory studies and more. Such action has limited goals directed towards improved knowledge of health risks and health services and compliance with prescribed actions.
So if everyone can access information 24 7 why is health literacy still a. The positive and multiplier effects of education and general literacy on population health particularly women s health are well known and researched. Health literacy was found to partially mediate the association between low education and low self reported health status.
We live in a time of information overload. Health literacy is linked to literacy and entails people s knowledge motivation and competences to access understand appraise and apply health information in order to make judgements and take decisions in everyday life concerning health care disease prevention and health promotion to maintain or improve quality of life during the life course. Health literacy implies the achievement of a level of knowledge personal skills and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions.