Health Literacy Definition Medical Terms

Health literacy is the ability to obtain read understand and use healthcare information in order to make appropriate health decisions and follow instructions for treatment.

Health literacy definition medical terms. Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain process and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions reflecting dhhs policy the national library of medicine adopted this definition for the medical subject headings mesh term health literacy. What is health literacy. A prescription to end confusion as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

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. Health literacy is defined in the institute of medicine report health literacy. 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 defined as an individual s ability to acquire understand and use the information needed to make health related decisions healthypeople gov 2012 is an especially important factor in patients ability to manage their interactions with the healthcare system.