Library: Health Literacy: Home

Definition of Health Literacy

Healthy People 2020 defines health literacy 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."

Resources on Health Literacy

Health Equity Style Guide for the COVID-19 Response: Principles and Preferred Terms for Non-Stigmatizing Bia-Free Language
CDC's Health Equity Style Guide stresses the importance of addressing all persons inclusively including using non-stigmatizing and bias-free language.
"Addressing Literacy and Health Literacy"
From the "Conscious and Unconscious Biases in Health Care" learning module, National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University.
AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 2nd Edition
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed a toolkit for primary care providers to "reduce the complexities of health care, increase patient understanding of health information, and enhance support for patients of all health literacy levels."
CDC and Health Literacy
Centers for Disease and Prevention website that includes tools on health literacy research, practice and evaluation on a variety of public health topics and situations.
Health Literacy Fact Sheets
Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. has developed a series of fact sheets for clinicians, patient advocates and other stakeholders for patients with low health literacy levels.
Health Literacy Principles Checklist
Jacobson, K. L., & Parker, R. M. (2014). Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills. Retrieved from Center for Health Guidance: http://centerforhealthguidance.org/health-literacy-principles-checklist.pdf
Health Literacy Studies
Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health provides tools, policy papers and other research findings on the topic of health literacy studies and practice.
National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. Washington, DC: Author.
Health Literate Care Model
A tool guide to improve health outcomes and assist patients to be more engaged in prevention, decision-making, and self-management.

MEDLINE PubMed Search and Health Literacy Search - key search words for health literacy search strategy with a list of resources.