Reports, statistics, background information and tools for developing materials and working with low low-literacy populations.
Health Literacy
Health Literacy Month
Health Literacy Consulting.
October is Health Literacy Month. The goal of the campaign is to emphasize the importance of making health information understandable to the people who need it most. Find resources to help raise awareness of health literacy.
The National Assessment of Adult Literacy: Health Literacy report
National Center for Education Statistics.
This report describes the literacy skills demonstrated by adults in the United States as shown in the results of the National Adult Literacy Survey and examines how health literacy is related to background variables, prose, document, and quantitative literacy. It also provides helpful information of the development of new policies and programs and tailoring health information to target audiences. Links to entire report are available as a PDF file, and includes ordering information.
Health Literacy Resource List for Educators (PDF | 152 KB)
USDA. NAL. Food and Nutrition Information Center.
Food and Nutrition Information Center's resource list of Health Literacy materials for professionals. Includes bibliographic information on print, online and multimedia resources.
Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals
HHS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This free online course for public health professionals will "introduce participants to the fundamentals of health literacy and demonstrate the importance of health literacy within public health practice."
Healthy People 2020: Health Communication and Health Information Technology Objectives
Department of Health and Human Services.
Covers the United State's national health objectives related to health communications and health information technology. The goal is to "use health communication strategies and health information technology to improve population health outcomes and health care quality, and to achieve health equity". Objective HC/HIT-1 focuses on health literacy.
The Newest Vital Sign: A New Health Literacy Assessment Tool for Health Care Providers
Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative.
A bilingual (English and Spanish) screening tool that identifies patients at risk for low health literacy. Provides information about the patient that will help providers achieve better health outcomes.
Programming for Limited-resource Families (PDF | 31 KB)
Kansas State University.
Includes information on the characteristics of limited resource learners, teaching to meet learner needs, and how to select appropriate materials. February, 1995