what is health literacy?
Health literacy has many definitions, but in general, it is: "the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, understand, and communicate about health-related information needed to make informed health decisions".
So, do you have the skills to find, understand, and use information and services to take care of your health? This could include:
These skills are all part of health literacy. There are several videos that teach some of these skills at the Get Health'e' YouTube channel.
Health literacy is important as research shows it can influence satisfaction with care, understanding health information, using the right health services, and following treatment plans.
Also keep in mind that part of health literacy has to do with how easy it is to get and use health care services, and whether the information you get is easy to understand. Health care professionals and organizations like hospitals can help improve health literacy. I work with various health providers to help them think about what they can do to make sure they are
So, do you have the skills to find, understand, and use information and services to take care of your health? This could include:
- knowing the difference between urgent care and emergency care
- understanding how to read prescription medication labels
- preparing for a doctor visit
These skills are all part of health literacy. There are several videos that teach some of these skills at the Get Health'e' YouTube channel.
Health literacy is important as research shows it can influence satisfaction with care, understanding health information, using the right health services, and following treatment plans.
Also keep in mind that part of health literacy has to do with how easy it is to get and use health care services, and whether the information you get is easy to understand. Health care professionals and organizations like hospitals can help improve health literacy. I work with various health providers to help them think about what they can do to make sure they are
what about eHealth literacy?
eHealth literacy is: "the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem". This is similar to health literacy, but focuses on electronic tools.
In other words, do you have the skills to use electronic sources to help manage your health successfully? This could include:
These skills are part of eHealth literacy. There are videos that teach some of these skills at the Get Health'e' YouTube channel.
In other words, do you have the skills to use electronic sources to help manage your health successfully? This could include:
- searching for accurate health information online
- using health apps
- understanding privacy issues on social media
- knowing whether information you see on social media is true
- using the patient portal at your doctor's office
These skills are part of eHealth literacy. There are videos that teach some of these skills at the Get Health'e' YouTube channel.
but what if you took a health education class...
You may remember taking health education in school, or you may be in school and taking it now. The National Health Education Standards state that health education should teach knowledge and skills for health.
Many people think of health literacy as health knowledge, like what foods are healthy to eat and how much exercise you should get. Those things are very important! But you should also have skills that help you do things like learn about nutrition on your own, or understand how to use health insurance. This focus on skills is what health literacy and eHealth literacy are all about.
Even if you took health education classes, you may not have learned some of these skills. And, things change quickly. For example, there was no internet when I had health education!
The goal of Get Health'e' is to help people add more skills to be as health literate (and as healthy) as they can be.
Many people think of health literacy as health knowledge, like what foods are healthy to eat and how much exercise you should get. Those things are very important! But you should also have skills that help you do things like learn about nutrition on your own, or understand how to use health insurance. This focus on skills is what health literacy and eHealth literacy are all about.
Even if you took health education classes, you may not have learned some of these skills. And, things change quickly. For example, there was no internet when I had health education!
The goal of Get Health'e' is to help people add more skills to be as health literate (and as healthy) as they can be.