Health Literacy: Importance, Skills, and Consequences Discussion

This discussion post examines the concept of health literacy, emphasizing its critical role in enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their health. The author highlights the essential skills encompassed by health literacy, including research, study, and the ability to apply health information effectively. The post underscores the benefits of health literacy in promoting healthy behaviors like balanced diets and physical activity, while also addressing the potential consequences of low health literacy levels, such as poor health outcomes and limited use of preventive care. Furthermore, the author reflects on their personal skills and experiences in the health field and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and professional development to enhance health literacy knowledge and communication skills. The post also includes references to support the arguments presented and poses a question for further discussion on the integration of health literacy into educational curricula.

Foundation of Health Literacy 1
Foundation of Health Literacy
I highly agree with you that healthy literacy is indeed a set of skills which comprises of
competency of performing both basic research and study skills which are needed in order to
remain health. Healthy literacy is quite important and beneficially because it helped people to
effectively apply information which is needed in order to both enhance and maintain viable
health. Health literacy is quite beneficial to all and sundry because it enables people to make
wise and well informed decisions regarding their health like for instance on the appropriate food
to be consumed which contains balanced diets, the appropriate exercises that people should get
involved in, and activities that people should get involved in so that they prevent anomalies
(Estacio, Whittle & Protheroe, 2017). It is important for all people in the world to have high
levels of literacy since low literacy levels in populations may highly limit their ability to not only
read well but also develop effective strategies that can aid them in the maintenance of good
health as well as staying fit and active.
I strongly believe that as individuals who are tasked with the responsibility of teaching
other people regarding health literacy, it is important for us to have high competence skills as far
as health literacy information is concerned (McCormack et al. 2017). This implies that as
professionals in health, we must thus have the appropriate knowledge and skills that will enable
us teach other people regarding the importance of staying health.
To better enhance our knowledge regarding the issue of health literacy, I highly believe
that there is great need for us to get involved in numerous refresher courses and short-trainings
that deal with health literacy so that we become updated with the most recent knowledge
regarding this issue. This is quite important because it will help us to have an enhanced
comprehension regarding issues to do with health, prevention of ailments that occur as a result of

Foundation of Health Literacy 2
having health literacy, and also provide us with the much needed knowledge regarding how to
deal with health problems as they arise as we interact with different people in different societies
and communities.
Apart from having the appropriate knowledge regarding health literacy, it is also
important to ensure that we have the appropriate skills that which will help us to effectively
convince the society and communities we live in regarding the importance of having health
eating diets and also keeping physically fit (Meggetto, Ward & Isaccs, 2018). As an individual
working in the health department, it will be prudent for me to also have the appropriate health
literacy skills like for instance writing skills, communication skills, speaking skills, and even
reading skills as this will play a significant role in ensuring that I impact on other people around
me.
As professionals concerned with health literacy, we must actually have the relevant
experience that will enable us to execute the relevant health and medical practices which
includes among others checking of both cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels, calculation
of nutrition in various foods, as well as measurement of various medication doses. Class, should
healthy literacy classes be incorporated in all the subjects in learning institutions? Your
responses are highly welcomed.

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References
Estacio, E.V., Whittle, R. and Protheroe, J., 2017. The digital divide: examining socio-
demographic factors associated with health literacy, access and use of internet to seek health
information. Journal of health psychology, p.1359105317695429.
McCormack, L., Thomas, V., Lewis, M.A. and Rudd, R., 2017. Improving low health literacy
and patient engagement: a social ecological approach. Patient education and counseling, 100(1),
pp.8-13.
Meggetto, E., Ward, B. and Isaccs, A., 2018. What’s in a name? An overview of organizational
health literacy terminology. Australian Health Review, 42(1), pp.21-30.

Foundation of Health Literacy 4
Foundation of Health Literacy Response Two
Health literacy refers to the capacity of understanding, evaluating, and applying relevant
information in order to make viable decisions regarding both health as well as health care. As a
university student, health literacy is quite important because it will help me in effectively
exploring the manner in which health information is ultimately communicated to various
stakeholders in the societies and communities and also help in the distinguishing any evidence
based information from any other sources of health information or materials that is publicly
available(Ali et al.2018). On the other hand, health literacy is also quite important because it
helps in ascertaining the degree in which individuals have the potential or capacity of obtaining,
processing, and comprehending the basic health services and information which is required to
make viable decisions.
As personnel in the health sector, it is prudent for us to ensure that there is integration of
patient centre, health literacy, and cultural competencies in the various societies in which we live
and work in. it is prudent for us to note that cultural competencies at health care system levels
refers to the ability of the relevant systems to effectively meet the needs of different groups of
clients in a health setting.
As stakeholders in the health sector, it is important for us to make sure that we participate
in the development of capacities to not only help people comprehend but also evaluate and apply
the relevant information that will be used in making relevant decisions regarding both and health
care. as students learning about health care, it is important for us to not only explore how health
information in the society is communicated but also become aware of distinguishing between the
evidence based information from other sources that are publicly available (Smith et al.2018). It is
important to note that the numerous elements which are involved in ensuring that health

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information becomes accessible to different stakeholders is effectively introduced and that the
goals of “successful health communication” are effectively communicated.
As students undertaking causes in health literacy, it is important for us to ensure that we
have the relevant capacities of obtaining, processing, and comprehending the basic health
services and information which is required in order to make the relevant health decisions in our
respective places of work. Class, it is prudent for us as health care personnel to note that health
literacy is not only depended on skills that our clients have (Loan et al.2018). Rather, it is
important for us to note that health literacy is also highly depended on our ability as healthcare
personnel to effectively communicate in a way which can be easily comprehend by our
respective clients that I will be handling.
Class, what could be the consequences that may emanate as a result of low rates of health
literacy? According to me, the major consequence of having low health literacy levels in a
population is that it can result in having poor health outcomes in the affected communities. In
addition to that, the affected people may also become less likely of using preventive care and
managing any chronic conditions that may occur.

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References
Ali, P.A., Salway, S., Such, E., Dearden, A. and Willox, M., 2018. Enhancing health literacy
through co-design: development of culturally appropriate materials on genetic risk and
customary consanguineous marriage. Primary health care research & development, pp.1-13.
Loan, L.A., Parnell, T.A., Stichler, J.F., Boyle, D.K., Allen, P., VanFosson, C.A. and Barton,
A.J., 2018. Call for action: Nurses must play a critical role to enhance health literacy. Nursing
outlook, 66(1), pp.97-100.
Smith, S.G., Jackson, S.E., Kobayashi, L.C. and Steptoe, A., 2018. Social isolation, health
literacy, and mortality risk: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Health
Psychology, 37(2), p.160.