Not surprisingly, low literacy in a population is associated
both directly and indirectly with a range of poor health
outcomes (Parker, 2000). Data from many developed
nations show a relationship between low literacy levels and
declining use of available health information and services.
This is observable in relation to responsiveness to health
education, the use of disease prevention services, and in
poor self-management of disease (DeWalt, Berkman,
Sheridan, Lohr, & Pignone, 2004).