In the risk model health literacy is a ‘‘priorstatus’’ derived from existing literacy and numeracy. In the asset model, health education is directed towards enabling individuals to exert greater control over a broad range of factors that determine health. In the risk model, health
education is more goal-directed, intended to lead to
compliance with recommended clinical care. The risk
model is mostly restricted to application in clinical settings,
whereas the asset model can be applied to a broad range of
settings. These fundamental differences have important
implications for the measurement of health literacy, and its
application as a concept in clinical and community settings