Health literacy is defined 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 affects people’s ability to successfully navigate the health care system (including filling out complex forms and finding service care providers), engage in self-care and management of chronic diseases, and understand the mathematical concepts of risk and probability. Low health literacy leads to poor health outcomes, which are associated with higher health care costs.
The Role of Libraries in Health Literacy
The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy revealed that the majority of adults (53 percent) had intermediate health literacy. A smaller number of adults (12 percent) had proficient health literacy. Nearly a quarter (22 percent) had basic health literacy and the remainder (14 percent) had below basic health literacy. Minorities, non-English speakers, elderly adults (over the age 65), adults living below the poverty line, and those without a high school education are at risk for having lower health literacy.
Libraries are uniquely posed to aid in the improvement of health literacy. There are many ways libraries can help, including expanding their health collections, giving programs about the Affordable Care Act, teaching classes about searching the internet for reliable and accurate health information, and connecting with local, state, or national health organizations.