October is Health Literacy Month

Health Literacy Month is a time for organizations and individuals to promote the importance of understandable health information. Over the years health care organizations, community coalitions, government agencies, businesses, advocacy groups, educational programs, and so many others have hosted a wide range of events. These include communication workshops for professionals, health education programs for patients and the public, and educational offerings for students at all levels. The theme for Health Literacy Month 2013 is “Be a Health Literacy Hero.” It’s about taking action and finding ways to improve how we communicate health information. Health Literacy Heroes include individuals, teams, and organizations who not only identify health literacy problems but also act to solve them. Health literacy is not simply the ability to read. It requires a complex group of reading, listening, analytical, and decision-making skills, and the ability to apply these skills to health situations. For example, it includes the ability to understand instructions on prescription drug bottles, appointment slips, medical education brochures, doctor’s directions and consent forms, and the ability to negotiate complex health care systems.
Definition: Health Literacy is defined in the Institute of Medicine report, 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 in a Cultural Context: Recognizing that culture plays an important role in communication helps us better understand health literacy. For people from different cultural backgrounds, health literacy is affected by belief systems, communication styles, and understanding and response to health information. Even though culture is only one part of health literacy, it is a very important piece of the complicated topic of health literacy. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes that “culture affects how people communicate, understand and respond to health information.” Vulnerable populations include: Older Adults, Minority Populations and Low Income.

COBM Health & Wellness Committee