Health Literacy Rates In The Us

Much like healthcare itself the well off and educated have higher rates of health literacy generally due to more access to healthcare more frequent visits and better relationships with their doctors and nurses.

Health literacy rates in the us. Economy up to 236 billion every year. In 2006 they published the only national data on health literacy skills. The health literacy of america s adults.

Our research contributes to how diverse indicators of social inequalities i e objective social class relational social class and social resources contribute to understanding disparities in health literacy. Individuals with low health literacy experience greater health care use and costs compared to those with proficient health literacy. Health literacy is a patient s understanding of their issues and the ways to treat them and avoid future health problems.

Health literacy research and practice eighty seven million american adults have low health literacy lhl costing up to 238 billion annually in inefficiencies vernon trujillo. Through all its impacts medical errors increased illness and disability loss of wages and compromised public health low health literacy is estimated to cost the u s. These studies found that adults who self report the worst health also have the most limited literacy numeracy and health literacy skills.