National action plan to improve health literacy.

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

Baur, Cynthia.

United States. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Health education--United States.

Health education.

Literacy--United States.

Literacy.

Health promotion--United States.

Health promotion.

Health literacy.

Health Education.

Health Literacy.

United States.

Medical Subjects:

Health Education.

Health Literacy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (v, 67, [1] pages)

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2010.

Summary:

"This National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy seeks to engage organizations, professionals, policymakers, communities, individuals, and families in a linked, multisector effort to improve health literacy. The plan is based on the principles that (1) everyone has the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions and (2) health services should be delivered in ways that are understandable and beneficial to health, longevity, and quality of life. The vision informing this plan is of a society that: Provides everyone with access to accurate and actionable health information; Delivers person-centered health information and services; Supports lifelong learning and skills to promote good health. Two decades of research indicate that today's health information is presented in a way that isn't usable by most Americans. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using the everyday health information that is routinely available in our health care facilities, retail outlets, media, and communities. Without clear information and an understanding of prevention and self-management of conditions, people are more likely to skip necessary medical tests. They also end up in the emergency room more often, and they have a hard time managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Limited health literacy affects people of all ages, races, incomes, and education levels, but the impact of limited health literacy disproportionately affects lower socioeconomic and minority groups. It affects people's ability to search for and use health information, adopt healthy behaviors, and act on important public health alerts. Limited health literacy is also associated with worse health outcomes and higher costs."--Page 2.

Contents:

Foreword

Contents

Summary

Introduction

Section 1. Limited health literacy as a public health problem

Section 2. Developing a societywide health response

Section 3. Vision and goals for the future

Section 4. Creating and sustaining national action

Appendix A: References

Appendix B: What you can do to improve health literacy

Appendix C: Acknowledgments.

Notes:

Title from title screen (viewed on June 16, 2010).

"Lead editor: Cynthia Baur"--Page 63.

"May 2010"--Page [68].

Includes bibliographical references (pages 50-58).

Cited as:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. Washington, DC: Author.

Other Format:

Print version: National action plan to improve health literacy

OCLC:

642018966