{"id":19526,"date":"2022-02-22T10:27:08","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T15:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19526"},"modified":"2023-03-08T14:01:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T19:01:19","slug":"what-is-health-literacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/what-is-health-literacy\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Health Literacy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever received a <\/span>medical bill<\/span><\/a> you don\u2019t understand? Or do you get frustrated when\u00a0<\/span>your doctor won\u2019t prescribe you medication you think you need? Doctor\u2019s visits, insurance, and other elements of health care, can be confusing. And <\/span>almost 90% of Americans<\/span><\/a> struggle with health literacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Developing stronger health literacy can help you better understand these things so that you can make informed decisions regarding your care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of health literacy<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are two different kinds of health literacy: personal health literacy and organizational health literacy. Both types of health literacy can help you navigate health care much more successfully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal health literacy<\/h3>\n

Health and medical information can be difficult to explain. Add complicated health insurance and fee structures, and you can find yourself struggling to make important decisions. Personal health literacy is your ability to understand these things well enough to make informed decisions \u2014 even if it means asking <\/span>embarrassing questions<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

You need personal health literacy to understand your visit summary after going to <\/span>urgent care<\/span><\/a>, to choose preferred treatment protocols, and more. Most people develop personal health literacy by learning about health through organizational health literacy initiatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizational health literacy<\/h3>\n

While you\u2019re responsible for your own health literacy, organizations also bear some of the weight. How much individuals and communities understand about healthcare often depends on how organizations make health information accessible. A variety of stakeholders facilitate organizational health literacy, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC), healthcare systems and even private doctors offices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizations like these are responsible for making access to health information equitable. Many of them do this by simplifying health information for consumption by producing content on social media, blogs, and other digital resources that consumers can find on the internet. They also produce printed materials that you can find at clinics and other healthcare facilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Importance of health literacy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Developing health literacy is important for patients, their families, and the healthcare professionals who provide them with care. Some benefits of health literacy are:<\/span><\/p>\n