Too many Australians can’t understand health information

Prof Robert Adams, of the Discipline of Medicine at the University of Adelaide, and his co-authors conducted a survey of 2824 South Australians aged 15 years and over to measure levels of ‘functional health literacy’.

‘Health literacy’ is the capacity to acquire, understand and use information for health. ‘Functional health literacy’ involves the ability to read, calculate and act on oral and written information in health care settings.

Prof Adams said 24 per cent of survey respondents were at risk of limited functional health literacy and 21 per cent had a high likelihood of inadequate functional health literacy.

The likelihood of inadequate functional health literacy increased with age and was more common among people with lower education levels, lower annual income, or who were born in countries other that Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

People with inadequate, or at-risk, functional health literacy were significantly more likely to report having diabetes, cardiac disease or stroke, and significantly less likely to have recently attended a doctor.  

Patients with limited health literacy are less likely to ask clinicians questions, and most health education information is too complex for them to understand.
If health professionals are aware that patients have poor health literacy, they can adjust their communication styles to meet the needs of patients and carers.

In an accompanying editorial in the MJA, Prof Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, writes that people who actively participate in health care decisions generally achieve better health outcomes than those who do not participate.
Prof Nutbeam said health care services and providers needed to show more sensitivity to patients with limited health literacy.

“Australia should follow the lead of the United Kingdom and adopt adult education programs, such as the Skilled for Health program, which brings health content into an adult basic skills program,” he said.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association

^{The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated}.

CONTACT:

Prof Don Nutbeam                    0011 44 23 8059 3212

Ms Sarah Watts                        0011 44 23 8059 3807
(Media Relations Manager)

Prof Robert Adams                   08 8222 6740 / 0408 836 338