Do you have more questions? Email us here: ASK A LIBRARIAN
WHAT IS HEALTH LITERACY?
Health Literacy is defined in the Institute of Medicine report, Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion, as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions."
WHAT?!?
Health literacy is the ability to understand health information and to use that information to make good decisions about your health. The most important part of health literacy is to ask questions for information from good sources like your doctor!
“I DIDN'T GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL. WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO TELL ME?”
“STATISTICS AND GRAPHS AND CHARTS! OH, MY!”
“ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE. HELP ME UNDERSTAND!”
"HOW DO I TELL FAKE NEWS FROM REAL INFORMATION?"
It can be difficult to tell real facts from false information. Below are some sites that help you tell the difference -- but always use your best judgement! When in doubt, look for a second source of information, use the tools below, don't trust social media links alone, and ask your doctor!