Health literacy: a prescription to end confusion.(Health Care Policy)

"Nearly hall of all American adults--90 million people--have difficulty understanding and using health information, and there is a higher rate of hospitalization and use of emergency services among patients with limited health literacy. Limited health literacy may lead to billions of dollars in avoidable health care costs.

Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic information and services needed to make appropriate decisions regarding their health. Health literacy also includes writing, listening, speaking, arithmetic, and conceptual knowledge.

Limited health literacy affects more …