Health Literacy - Health Literacy: It's Time to Take It Seriously!

This module is an introductory overview of health literacy. It serves as the Core Module for the Health Literacy Distance Education Program.  You are encouraged to complete this module before proceeding to the other modules in the series.

Included in the discussion is what we mean by low health literacy, the results of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) and the PIACC, populations at risk for low health literacy, the impact of health literacy, reading levels of health materials, and the consequences of the mismatch between the reading ability of most Americans and the difficulty of health-related materials.  

Objectives:

Participants who complete this module will be able to:

1. Define the general literacy and health literacy problem in the U.S.
2. Describe the 2003 NAAL survey and the PIAAC results and the implications for providers.
3. Compare and contrast populations at risk for low health literacy.
4. Describe the impact of inadequate health literacy on health-related knowledge, health promoting behaviors, health outcomes and status, healthcare resources utilization, and healthcare costs.
5. Identify the barriers and factors or reasons that contribute to the problem of low health literacy in the U.S.
6. Explain how patients, clinicians, and the healthcare system overlook low health literacy.
7. Describe the mismatch between the literacy levels of adult Americans and levels of most health materials and the consequences of this mismatch with possible solutions to the problem.

Note: If you need assistance accessing this course, have a disability that requires digitally accessible accommodations, or would like to request a digitally accessible course completion certificate, please email ScarletCanvasMedEd@osumc.edu or call 614-366-0943. We will respond to your request within two business days.