“Health literacy” is defined as the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions. Lack of health literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes, higher mortality rates, and increased healthcare costs.
Kristen Carter, M.S. is the author of a recent article in Psychology Today titled “Taking Health Literacy to the Next Level”. She says health literacy alone may not be sufficient for effective health management. People need to have a belief in their ability to organize and manage a complex situation like maintaining health in order for them to take concrete actions. These actions may include getting more exercise and eating healthy foods which, Carter says, can be an uphill battle for many individuals. Techniques like fostering a growth mindset, motivational interviewing, and self-exploration can enhance self-efficacy. These methods help individuals develop confidence, competence, and empowerment, which are essential for sustaining health behaviours and achieving the goals of health literacy.
A 2020 review, quoted by the author, has suggested that there needs to be a new definition of health literacy as the “ability of an individual to obtain and translate knowledge and information in order to maintain and improve health in a way that is appropriate to the individual and system contexts.”
Read more at this link on Psychology Today
