This is a list of resources that Say Ah! has compiled to help you learn more about health literacy, and to give patients and care providers information that can greatly enhance the quality of care. We are also compiling links to Web sites that provide support for caregivers [SEE BELOW.]
Please note that we do not endorse nor are we paid by or otherwise receive any benefit from any listed organization. We provide these links solely for your benefit. [See our Terms of Use.]
General Health Literacy
The following links will give you a good overview of health literacy:
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthliteracy.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsbasic.htm
http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm
http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume1/11HealthCom.htm
The Plain Language Action and Information Network
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/populartopics/health_literacy/index.cfm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Heath
http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Terminology
http://www.hrsa.gov/healthliteracy/
Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.
http://www.chcs.org/publications3960/publications_show.htm?doc_id=291711
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
http://www.iom.edu/?id=19750
Institute of Education Sciences: National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006483
Policy Briefs
The following links help explain the impact of health literacy on our health care system:
America’s Health Literacy Why We Need Accessible Health Information
http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/issuebrief/2008IssueBrief.pdf
Low Health Literacy: Implications for National Health Policy
http://www.npsf.org/askme3/pdfs/Case_Report_10_07.pdf
Literacy and Health Outcomes
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/littp.htm
Low Literacy, High Risk: The Hidden Challenge Facing Health Care in California
http://cahealthliteracy.org/pdffiles/healthliteracylongreport012704_3.pdf
Low Health Literacy Skills Increase Annual Health Care Expenditures by $73 Billion
http://www.agingsociety.org/agingsociety/publications/fact/fact_low.html
Health Literacy in the News
The following links taken from a variety of news sources describe the impact of health literacy on individuals and communities:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/health/02chen.html?scp=3&sq=health%20literacy&st=cse
http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/May09/5/wn02.htm
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/gables_smiami/story/1028723.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/health/30brody.html?scp=5&sq=health%20literacy&st=cse
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-07-23-health-literacy_N.htm
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/hscout/2008/10/17/hscout620323.html
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/prss/615528.html
Caregiver Support
The Well Spouse Association provides support and resources for spousal caregivers: www.wellspouse.org.