Reports, statistics, background information and tools for developing materials and working with low low-literacy populations.
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 MonthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health Literacy: the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions. The CDC's Health literacy site provides information and tools to improve health literacy and public health.
Health Literacy for Public Health ProfessionalsHHS. 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."
Improving Health LiteracyDHHS. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
This site provides basic information on health literacy as well as tools that can be utilized to make materials easy-to-understand, reports and research on the health literacy, and a related resources section full of other helpful resources.
National Action Plan to Improve Health LiteracyDHHS. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
This plan seeks to engage organizations, professionals, policymakers, communities, individuals, and families in an effort to improve health literacy. Seven goals are outlined in the report that aim to improve health literacy.
PlainLanguage.govFederal Aviation Administration.
This site has a goal of improving communication of the Federal government to the public has tools and information that can help anyone understand what plain language is, why it should be used, and how to use it. Site includes a page on health literacy.
Healthy Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion
The National Academies Press.
This book, published in 2004, examines the body of knowledge that applies to the field of health literacy, and recommends actions to promote a health literate society.
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