Health Literacy Month: Why Does It Matter?

Many people pick up their phones or search online when they have a health question, and they can quickly run into plenty of health information. There are websites, social media posts, videos, apps, brochures, forms, and all kinds of other resources. So, why do people still have trouble understanding their health?

Access to information and understanding information are two different things. A page can contain all the right facts and still leave someone wondering what they are actually supposed to do. Addressing this is very important because:

• Empowers people: It helps people become active participants and better advocates for their own well-being. 
• Can improve outcomes: Linked to better chronic disease management, increased preventive care, and reduced health disparities.
• Can ensure safety: May help reduce the risk of misunderstanding medication instructions or other critical treatment directions.

Held every October, Health Literacy Month raises awareness about the way health information is written, explained, and shared. It is relevant to patients, families, healthcare workers, and organizations alike.

It began in 1999 as an effort to get more people talking about health literacy and thinking about how healthcare information reaches the people who need it. 

What Is Health Literacy?

Having the ability to read doesn’t mean someone has health literacy. It actually refers to how capable someone is to find, understand and use the data they’re provided. This includes understanding what the doctor says, reading labels or following a medical procedure.

Communication isn't only the patient's responsibility. Healthcare professionals and organizations have to consider how understandable their information is. If someone doesn't recognize a medical term, that doesn’t mean they should feel embarrassed about asking what it means.

In fact, asking questions can be a sign that someone is trying to make sure they get things right. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also emphasized the importance of understandable health information and healthcare systems that people can navigate more easily.

The Origins of Health Literacy Month

Health Literacy Month dates back to 1999 and is closely associated with health literacy advocate Helen Osborne.

Osborne has described becoming interested in the subject after coming across research about adults having difficulty understanding written health information. Her work as an occupational therapist also gave her opportunities to see how communication could affect people's experiences with healthcare.

Her idea was to dedicate a month to the subject and give people an opportunity to talk about it. Other people interested in health communication supported the idea, and Health Literacy Month developed as a grassroots effort rather than one campaign with a single set of activities everyone had to follow.

Health Literacy Is About More Than Reading

A person can be an excellent reader and still struggle with a medical form. Maybe the document uses terminology they've never seen before, or maybe there is too much information on the page. 

This isn't limited to patients. Healthcare professionals can also run into information that is difficult to understand when it falls outside their own area of expertise.

There really isn't a point where someone becomes completely "immune" to health literacy challenges.

The goal isn't to turn everyone into a medical expert. What people need is the ability to understand the information that matters to them at the time they need it.

How Can Healthcare Professionals Help?

For healthcare professionals, communication is a big part of the job. A correct diagnosis or treatment plan doesn't help much if the patient leaves without understanding what happens next.

At IMANA, we have webinars focused on young people to help them understand the importance of health. Dr. Amber Khan discusses health from physical, mental, social, reproductive, sexual, and spiritual perspectives. 

Fortunately, improving communication doesn't always require a complicated new system.

Use Plain Language

Medical terminology can be useful, especially when professionals are communicating with one another. Patients, though, may not know what many of those terms mean.

Explaining a technical term when it has to be used can also make a conversation much easier. The same goes for written information. Patient materials don't necessarily need to sound like a medical textbook.

The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion encourages healthcare professionals to learn about plain language and use clearer communication with patients.

Encourage Questions

Patients may not want to interrupt, may feel rushed, or may simply assume they are supposed to understand everything the first time. Encouraging questions can take some of that pressure away.

A healthcare professional can invite a patient to ask for something to be repeated or explained differently. The healthcare professional can also make sure the patient knows what to do next and who to contact if another question comes up. 

That kind of exchange should feel normal. It shouldn't be something a patient worries about doing.

Try the Teach-Back Method

The teach-back method takes this idea a little further. Rather than asking a patient, "Do you understand?" a healthcare professional can ask the person to explain the instructions back in their own words.

This gives the healthcare professional a chance to check whether their explanation worked. If the patient has misunderstood something, the professional can go over it again and try a different explanation.

What Can Patients Do During Health Literacy Month?

Before an appointment, write down the things you want to ask about. If you have several symptoms or concerns, putting them on paper can keep one from being forgotten once the conversation gets going.

During the appointment, take notes if that works for you. And if something doesn't make sense, say so. Key questions might include:

• What does this diagnosis mean?

• What should I do next?

• How exactly should I take this medication?

• Is there anything I need to avoid or do before my next appointment?

• Who should I contact if I have another question?

• When should I come back?

None of these questions are complicated, and they can be really useful. National Day Calendar also points to activities such as health education programs and getting involved with health literacy efforts in local communities.

How Organizations Can Participate

Health Literacy Month doesn't come with one required activity. An organization can decide what makes sense for the people it serves. A hospital might review the language used in patient materials. A healthcare practice could provide communication training for staff. A library or community group might organize a health education event.

Even sitting down and looking at existing information can be worthwhile. Are the instructions easy to follow? Are important details buried in a paragraph? Are there medical terms that could be explained in simpler language?

Those questions can uncover problems that are easy to miss when you're the person who originally wrote the material.

Making Information Easier to Understand Matters

October is when Health Literacy Month gets most of the attention, but better health communication isn't something that should be packed into one month of the year.

Healthcare can be stressful. People can easily get worried about a symptom or while waiting for test results. Deciphering complicated health information during these rough times can make it even worse.

This is why Health Literacy Month acts as a reminder that clear communication must work both ways. Patients should be comfortable when asking things if they don’t understand, and professionals should make an effort to ensure that people understand everything.

If you want to learn more about health, at IMANA we have many articles and information that can be vital.

FAQs About Health Literacy

What is Health Literacy Month?

Health Literacy Month is observed every October to raise awareness about understanding and communicating health information.

Why is health literacy important?

It helps people understand health information, make informed decisions, and follow healthcare instructions safely.

How can I improve my health literacy?

Ask questions, use reliable sources, and ask healthcare professionals to explain anything you don't understand.