Report
Note: Workshop Summaries contain the opinion of the presenters, but do NOT reflect the conclusions of the IOM. Learn more about the differences between Workshop Summaries and Consensus Reports.
Understanding and using basic health information and being able to navigate the complexities of the health care system are critical to good health. Health literacy can be difficult to assess, however, as it is not only a measure of individuals’ understanding of health information at various points in time but also a measure of how well various health care systems have been organized. In addition, there is no agreement upon how to judge the effects of health literacy. Existing measures do not capture enough data to understand fully how health literacy influences health or what can be done to improve health literacy. The Roundtable on Health Literacy held a workshop on February 26, 2009, to examine what is known about measures of health literacy, in particular:
- The current status of measures of health literacy, including those used in the health care setting
- Other possible measures that might be used to assess health literacy
- Ways in which health literacy measures can be used to assess approaches to health care
Measures of Health Literacy summarizes these workshop proceedings.
Other Reports by this Activity
Displaying: 3 of 7 Reports
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Improving Health Literacy Within a State - Workshop Summary
Nearly half of all American adults lack health literacy – an individual’s ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information. In order to improve knowledge among these 90 million people, the IOM, along with the UCLA Anderson School of Management, held a workshop on November 30, 2010, to explore ways in which state-based organizations and individuals can work to improve health literacy.
Released: November 14, 2011
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Promoting Health Literacy to Encourage Prevention and Wellness - Workshop Summary
Several studies have found that health literacy – an individual’s ability to understand and retain information to make proper health decisions – makes a difference in how much populations use preventive services. The IOM’s Roundtable on Health Literacy held a workshop to explore approaches to integrate health literacy in to primary and secondary prevention. The workshop featured presentations and discussions on select topics related to health literacy’s role in preventive health care.
Released: November 1, 2011
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Health Literacy Implications for Health Care Reform - Workshop Summary
Due to low health literacy—the degree to which one can understand and make decisions based on health information—many people may have difficulty understanding what coverage they are eligible for under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; making informed choices about what is best for them and their families; and completing the enrollment process. On November 10, 2010, the IOM Roundtable on Health Literacy held a workshop to explore opportunities to advance health literacy in association with the implementation of health care reform.
Released: July 15, 2011
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