Action Plans to Improve Health Literacy | Institute for Health Policy Leadership

By IHPL - November 15, 2024

Literacy is a fundamental human right and a powerful tool for personal empowerment and social development. It is crucial for accessing educational opportunities, eradicating poverty, enhancing socioeconomic status, reducing child and maternal mortality, achieving gender equality, and fostering sustainable development. Health literacy, on the other hand, plays a vital role in empowering individuals by enhancing their access to and ability to effectively utilize health information.¹

Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to locate, understand, and apply health information and services to make informed decisions for themselves and others.² It is important for everyone as we will all eventually need to access, understand, and use health information and services. Research shows that 9 out of 10 adults struggle with understanding health information. Those with limited health literacy are less likely to seek preventative care and are more prone to health problems.^3,4 Health literacy helps to prevent illness, protect wellbeing, and manage health issues when they arise.⁵ Using health literacy best practices promotes health equity and fosters trust, which is essential in encouraging individual to engage in healthcare and adopt healthy behaviors, leading to improved health outcomes for everyone.⁶

Therefore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, seeking to engage policymakers, communities, organizations, individuals, and families in a multisector effort to improve health literacy.⁷ It is based on two key principles: (1) that everyone has the right to health information that enables them to make informed choices and (2) that health services should be provided in a clear and effective manner, enhancing longevity, health, and quality of life.^7,8 The National Action Plan also includes seven key goals to improve health literacy, including developing and sharing accurate, accessible, and actionable health information; improving health systems to enhance communication, informed decisions, and access to care; integrating accurate health and science education from early childhood through university; supporting local efforts in adult education, English instruction, and culturally appropriate health services; building partnerships, providing guidance, and influencing policy changes; expanding research and evaluating interventions to boost health literacy; and promoting and applying evidence-based health literacy practices.⁸

Adapted from the HHS’s National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed their own Health literacy Action Plan to identify and track the key actions for improving health literacy. The plan outlines a framework that directs the CDC’s strategy for utilizing clear communication and health literacy techniques. It includes three main goals: (1) ensuring that everyone has access to precise and practical health information; (2) offering health information and services focused on the individual; and (3) fostering lifelong learning and skills to encourage healthy living.³

Improving health literacy in communities empowers individuals to take an active role in managing their health, engage in community health initiatives, and hold governments accountable for their responsibilities to address health and health equity.⁹ As such, health literacy goes beyond simply reading health materials or making appointments. It is also heavily dependent on overall literacy levels. Insufficient literacy can limit personal and social development, which in turn can hamper the ability to achieve health literacy.¹

Understanding the interplay between general literacy and health literacy is essential for fostering empowered individuals and building healthier communities. Recognizing literacy as a fundamental human right and tool for personal and social development can pave the way for significant advancements in health equity and overall wellbeing. Enhancing health literacy enables individuals to make informed health decisions and fosters a culture of trust and engagement in healthcare. Therefore, prioritizing both general and health literacy is crucial in achieving sustainable development goals and improving health outcomes for all.

Author Bio:

Renée Chuang, M.S.

Renée completed her undergraduate education in Biochemistry and Sociology at the University of Oregon. She then received her Master of Science in Global Health at National Taiwan University. Currently, she is pursuing her DrPH in Health Policy and Leadership at Loma Linda University School of Public Health. Her research interests include patient-provider relationships and quality of care. When she is not working on her dissertation, she can be found exploring local coffee shops or training for a marathon

Author Bio:

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