Health Literacy

Question 1

What is Health Literacy

Answer 1

Relates to how people access, understand and use health information in ways that benefit their health.

Question 2

Australian Population and Health Literacy

Answer 2

60% is low level
40% is adequate level

Question 3

Why is Health Literacy important

Answer 3

Enables people to actively engage in preventive healthcare practices, manage chronic conditions effectively, and navigate complex healthcare systems with confidence. High health literacy causes better communication between patients and healthcare providers, leading to more accurate diagnoses, appropriate treatments, and improved health outcomes. Poor health literacy can cause higher hospitalisations, lower ability to self care, lower engagements with health services

Question 4

Benefits of Health Literacy

Answer 4

1. increases pacient involvement in shared decision making
2. Less hospitalisations
3. Higher screening rates
4. Awareness of medications
5. Engagement in health programs

Question 5

Skills for health literacy

Answer 5

Accessing: obtaining the correct and appropriate information

Reading: after accessing you need to know how to read the information

Comprehension: means to understand the information and be able to put what they learnt/read into everyday life