Approximately one in three adult Americans have low health literacy, low numeracy, or both. Among patients with diabetes, this is associated with less disease-specific knowledge, worse performance of required self-care activities, and impaired glycemic control. In broader populations, low health literacy is independently associated with a higher incidence of hospital admission, as well as mortality.
Individual health care providers and organizations should be aware that many of the patients they serve have low health literacy or numeracy and should strive to communicate in a way that improves patients' understanding and application of health information. Specific strategies that have been recommended include the use of plain language in both print and oral communication, appropriate elicitation of questions from patients, and the use of the teach-back technique to confirm patients' understanding of vital information and instructions for self-management.
Patient education programs, designed to be accessible for patients with low health literacy, are available, and early evidence supports their use. Family and community resources may also be helpful as clinicians strive to improve patient care.