What is the purpose of health literacy in patient education?

Health literacy is fundamentally about empowering patients to understand and effectively utilize health information. This encompasses the ability to read and comprehend medical instructions, interpret prescription bottles, understand appointment slips, and assess health-related media and materials. By enhancing a patient's health literacy, they become more capable of making informed decisions regarding their health care, including when to seek further medical assistance, how to manage their conditions, and how to adhere to prescribed treatments.

While simplifying medical terms can help to some extent, it does not capture the broader goal of health literacy. It's not primarily focused on financial advice or emotional support—these are important aspects of patient care but fall outside the definition and purpose of health literacy in patient education. Health literacy specifically aims to bridge the gap between complex medical information and the patient's ability to understand that information for positive health outcomes.