the ability of individuals to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information and services to make appropriate health decisions for themselves and others. It goes beyond reading ability to include numeracy skills (such as calculating cholesterol and blood sugar levels, measuring medication doses, or interpreting nutrition labels) and a working knowledge of health topics. High health literacy empowers people to navigate the health system, follow medical instructions, and engage in preventive care effectively.
Example
A patient with high health literacy can read a prescription label, understand the dosage instructions, calculate the timing between doses, and recognize potential side effects. In contrast, a patient with limited health literacy might misinterpret the instructions, leading to incorrect medication use.