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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Health Promotion and Behaviour

Health literacy

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCore term

In public health & epidemiology, health literacy means: The ability to find, understand, judge and use health information to make decisions about one's own health and health care.

In Turkish: sağlık okuryazarlığı

How it is used

Low health literacy is linked to poorer health and more hospital visits. Organisations measure, improve or take account of health literacy, for example by using plain language and checking understanding. Digital health literacy covers online information.

Example sentences

  1. Leaflets should be written for readers with limited health literacy.

  2. The survey found low health literacy in nearly half of older adults.

Common collocations

  • low health literacy
  • limited health literacy
  • improve health literacy
  • digital health literacy
  • plain language
  • health educationPlanned learning activities that give people the knowledge, skills and motivation to make healthier choices, for example lessons, workshops, counselling or leaflets.
  • health promotionThe process of enabling people and communities to increase control over their health and improve it, through education, supportive environments, healthy policies and community action.
  • risk communicationThe real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions between experts, officials and the public about a health threat, so that people can make informed decisions to protect themselves.
  • vaccine hesitancyA delay in accepting, or a refusal of, vaccines even when vaccination services are available, often driven by doubts, mistrust or misinformation.

More terms: Health Promotion and Behaviour

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.