Health literacy represents a person’s ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. This capacity extends beyond simply reading and includes numeracy, oral communication, and the ability to navigate the complex healthcare system. Low health literacy is a widespread concern, affecting a significant portion of the adult population globally and in the United States. Studies indicate that approximately 36% of US adults possess only basic or below basic health literacy levels, meaning tens of millions of individuals may struggle with common health tasks. This deficiency acts as a barrier to effective self-care and communication, establishing health literacy as an important determinant of health disparities and overall health outcomes.
Improving Treatment Adherence and Patient Safety
A direct effect of health literacy is seen in a patient’s adherence to prescribed treatments and the overall safety of their care experience. Patients with a limited capacity to understand health information often struggle with complex medication regimens, such as comprehending dosage instructions, timing, and potential side effects. Up to 42% of patients with low literacy may not fully grasp instructions like taking a medication on an empty stomach. This lack of understanding significantly contributes to medication non-adherence and errors, which are major factors in poor health outcomes and hospital readmissions.
Health literacy is also tied to an individual’s ability to navigate the clinical environment and correctly interpret written materials like informed consent forms or post-discharge instructions. Limited health literacy is associated with an increased risk of medical errors and adverse drug events because patients cannot effectively reconcile their chronic medications or know the proper indications for their drugs. This problem is pronounced in the management of chronic diseases, where sustained adherence to a treatment plan is necessary for disease control. Improving a patient’s understanding through clear communication is a direct way to reduce these safety risks.
Patient safety is compromised when individuals cannot effectively communicate their symptoms or health history to providers. Limited health literacy is recognized as a factor that can lead to patient harm within the healthcare system, alongside issues like non-adherence and lack of engagement. Studies on patients with uncontrolled hypertension found that those with low health literacy were less likely to know the indications for their medications or understand the correct instructions and dosing. The capacity to process and understand medical information is a necessary skill for patients to participate safely in their own care and avoid preventable complications.
Enhancing Preventative Care and Lifestyle Choices
Health literacy plays a significant role in proactive, long-term health management by enabling individuals to make informed choices about preventative care and lifestyle behaviors. A higher level of health literacy allows people to critically evaluate public health information, empowering them to seek out reliable sources and understand disease risk factors. This includes connecting daily habits, such as diet and physical activity, directly to the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Individuals with higher health literacy are statistically more likely to engage with preventative services essential for early detection and disease management. Studies show a correlation between adequate health literacy and a greater likelihood of participating in screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies, as well as receiving necessary vaccinations. This is due to a better understanding of the benefits of these procedures and the risks associated with foregoing them.
The ability to process health information supports the effective management of existing chronic conditions, which often requires complex self-care activities. Patients with limited health literacy are less likely to manage their long-term conditions effectively, underscoring the importance of this skill for sustained well-being. Health literacy is linked to positive health-related lifestyle behaviors, suggesting that interventions targeting this capacity are an effective tool for disease prevention and control. By understanding how lifestyle affects health, individuals are better equipped to reduce risks like smoking or poor diet that contribute to adverse health outcomes.
Reducing Healthcare Costs and System Utilization
The economic consequences of low health literacy are substantial, manifesting as increased costs for both the individual and the overall healthcare system. Limited health literacy is associated with a greater utilization of costly services, particularly emergency care and inpatient hospital stays. Individuals who misunderstand their symptoms or treatment plans may resort to the emergency room for issues that could have been handled by primary care, leading to higher system costs.
The financial burden extends to higher rates of hospitalization and longer hospital stays for patients with low health literacy skills. A study estimated that adults with low health literacy averaged 6% more hospital visits and stayed nearly two days longer than those with higher literacy. This inefficient use of resources contributes to economic inefficiency, with estimates placing the annual cost of low health literacy to the US economy in the range of $106 billion to $238 billion.
Better management of chronic conditions, facilitated by improved health literacy, helps to reduce expensive complications and subsequent hospital readmissions. Hospital readmissions are a costly consequence, with the average 30-day readmission costing approximately $15,000 per payer.
Beyond medical care, health literacy also encompasses the ability to navigate the financial and administrative aspects of healthcare, such as complex insurance paperwork and billing. Individuals who can better understand their coverage options and medical bills are less likely to face financial strain or avoid necessary care due to confusion over costs.