Introduction

As Americans, everyone should have their basic needs met—free healthcare, higher education, and even public transportation. Yet, we lack access to these essentials, along with healthy food, a basic understanding of health terms, housing, and increasingly scarce job opportunities.

Those of us living in poverty or as part of minority groups often don’t know how to advocate for ourselves or access available resources. One critical tool for improving our quality of life is health literacy. While we’re supposed to trust healthcare providers, the system, and the government, systemic racism and prejudice persist. This makes it essential to learn how to advocate for better healthcare, education, and overall quality of life.

This article will explore why health literacy is important, what it entails, and who stands to lose the most if it doesn’t improve.

Health Literacy

According to Healthy People 2030, health literacy involves:

• Empowering individuals to apply health information, not just understand it.
• Supporting people in making well-informed decisions, rather than prescribing what’s “appropriate.”
• Encouraging community involvement and consideration of public health impacts.
• Recognizing that organizations have a responsibility to address health literacy in collaboration with individuals.

The previous definition of health literacy, according to Healthy People 2010 and 2020, described it as the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make well-informed decisions. The key difference in Healthy People 2030 is the focus on taking action, rather than just understanding information.

Earlier, I mentioned health information. To fully grasp health literacy, it’s important to understand health promotion. Health information refers to any personal details about your health or disability, including opinions about your condition. According to research, health information can include:

• Notes on symptoms and diagnoses
• Information on services received, specialist reports, and test results
• Prescription records, dental files, genetic data, and appointment details

As outlined by the Australian government, these examples are provided to help you take action, understand your health needs, and advocate for yourself when seeking care.

Health literacy, according to the National Institutes of Health, involves not only individuals but also families, communities, and systems. It requires skills such as reading, comprehension, analyzing information, and understanding instructions, symbols, charts, and diagrams. Practicing health literacy means weighing risks and benefits, making decisions, and taking action—all of which require basic literacy skills.

The Impact of Literacy on Personal Health

It is well-documented that racial minority groups and individuals living at or below the poverty line face higher health risks, often due to limited health literacy. Many of us don’t fully understand what’s happening in our bodies and rely solely on healthcare providers to guide us, but that’s not always enough. This is why health literacy is crucial—it empowers us to understand how different factors affect our health and helps us take proactive steps toward improved quality of life. 

According to Healthy People 2030, personal health literacy is the ability to find, understand, and use information to make informed decisions and take action for ourselves and our loved ones. Those with limited health literacy are at greater risk of misunderstanding essential health information, which can negatively impact their ability to maintain good health. Health literacy is also vital for advocating within the healthcare system, preventing individuals or family members from getting lost in a complex and often fragmented system.

Personal health literacy is closely linked to factors like racial and ethnic minority status, age, poverty, education, language barriers, and health insurance coverage. These same groups often struggle with other essential needs—housing, access to fresh food, transportation, and quality education. By improving health literacy, individuals can take steps to improve their well-being, such as exercising, making healthier grocery choices, and understanding how lifestyle factors like stress and nutrition impact their bodies. Most importantly, they will gain a better understanding of how medications work and the potential side effects.

Ultimately, strong personal health literacy fosters open and effective communication between patients and doctors. Many people leave medical appointments feeling unheard, confused by medical jargon, or unsure about their treatment. When doctors take the time to explain diagnoses, test results, and options clearly, patients feel in control and more confident in their care.

Health Literacy and Public Health

Health literacy is critical when it comes to understanding pharmaceuticals. It’s important to know how medications and vaccines affect your body, how to read medication labels, research ingredients, and understand potential side effects.

Another reason health literacy matters is its ability to reduce healthcare costs. When people can manage their health, they require fewer doctor visits and fewer medication errors.

Health disparities, or health inequities, play a major role in the lack of health literacy. Research shows that demographic groups such as low-income individuals, those with lower education levels, and racial and ethnic minorities often have lower health literacy. This is largely due to limited access to quality primary and higher education.

Here’s my personal story to illustrate the importance of health literacy. I’m part of a racial minority group, but I was fortunate enough to attend college, earn a degree, and further my education with a master’s in health promotion. Without this education, I wouldn’t have the health literacy I possess today. I wouldn’t know how to advocate for myself, manage my health, or make informed decisions. However, someone with a similar background shouldn’t have to go into debt just to learn and apply basic health knowledge and they shouldn’t be ignorant to the topic either. Health literacy should be a free resource, taught at no cost, and doctors should take the time to educate their patients—after all, they’re already being paid.

How to Improve Health Literacy

I believe healthcare providers play the most important role in enhancing health literacy. They can do this by ensuring their patients not only understand health information but can apply it. Providers should simplify medical terms, use visual demonstrations, and encourage two-way communication.

Two-way communication can be promoted by asking open-ended questions and using the “teach-back” method, where patients repeat information to confirm understanding. Providers should also personalize patient education, offering information tailored to individual health needs and providing relevant educational materials.

Individuals can improve their own health literacy by participating in community initiatives and seeking out resources that help them advocate for their health.

City officials can also support health literacy by organizing public health campaigns, offering education through community centers, running workshops and courses on health literacy and implementing school-based health literacy programs. These community initiatives and resources are vital to spreading health literacy, especially among racial minorities and those living at or below the poverty line.

Conclusion

In conclusion, health literacy is essential for improving individual and public health, particularly for marginalized groups like racial minorities and those living in poverty. It empowers people to not only understand health information but to take informed action, whether it’s managing medications, navigating the healthcare system, or advocating for themselves.

Improving health literacy can reduce healthcare costs, prevent medical errors, and help individuals lead healthier lives. However, health disparities and inequities—such as limited access to quality education and healthcare—continue to hinder progress.

My own journey highlights the importance of education in developing health literacy, but it shouldn’t take a college degree and student debt to gain this vital knowledge. Health literacy should be a free and accessible resource for all, with healthcare professionals playing a critical role in educating and supporting their patients.

Ultimately, health literacy is a tool for empowerment, and everyone deserves the opportunity to understand and manage their health effectively.