Understanding health literacy and why it matters
Being able to understand and use health information is something many of us take for granted. But for some people, it can be a real challenge or impossible to understand.
Health literacy means having the skills, confidence and knowledge to find, understand and use information to make decisions about health and care.
It is not just about reading ability. Health literacy also includes understanding medical terms, navigating healthcare departments, knowing which questions to ask and feeling confident enough to ask them. When people do not fully understand their health information, it can lead to confusion, worry and even mistakes in care.
Why clear information matters in North Yorkshire
Government research shows that around 43 percent of adults in England struggle to understand written health information, and 61 percent find it difficult when numbers are included, such as medication doses or test results.
In a large and rural area like North Yorkshire, this can create extra challenges. People may have to travel long distances for appointments, rely on written information to navigate services or manage their health independently.
If that information is unclear or too complex, it can make an already difficult situation even harder.
At Healthwatch North Yorkshire, often hear from people who find health letters, appointment details or treatment information confusing. These experiences show how important clear communication is for helping people feel confident and supported.
Real examples from healthcare professionals
A lack of clear communication can happen to anyone. During a recent webinar on health literacy, healthcare professionals shared some real examples of how misunderstandings can happen in everyday practice:
“I did not understand a letter from my specialist explaining my full diagnosis. It was an full of acronyms and numbers and I did not question it because I was going through treatment.”
“As a previous stroke nurse, I once cared for a patient who was discharged into a residential home. The discharge letter said the patient had ‘neglect,’ meaning they were unaware of one side of their body after the stroke. The care home manager said she was very angry because she thought it implied the patient had been neglected by them.”
“Appointment letters were sent from a central service with it's postal address on the letterhead, but the appointment itself was at another location. The patient turned up at the main central address, which was the wrong place.”
“I used to run a health information service in a hospital that people could drop into. I was constantly helping people understand where they needed to go. The difference between mobility services and where to get a wheelchair is just one example.”
These examples show how easily health information can be misunderstood, even by people trying their best to follow instructions or help others.
What can help
Improving health literacy means making health and care information easier to understand for everyone.
That includes:
- Using plain language instead of jargon or acronyms
- Checking understanding by asking people to explain things back in their own words
- Making written materials easy to read and visually clear
- Ensuring appointment letters are accurate and consistent. For example, making it clearer that addresses the appointment letters are sent from aren't where the patients go for the actual appointment.
- Creating spaces where people feel comfortable asking questions
Health professionals, care providers and organisations can all help by communicating clearly and simply.
Making a difference together
At Healthwatch North Yorkshire, we know that clear communication helps people make informed decisions about their health.
When health information is easy to understand, everyone benefits. Patients feel more confident, staff save time and care outcomes improve.
If you have ever found medical information confusing or have a story to share about your experience with health and care services, we would love to hear from you.
Understanding support and adjustments during health appointments
Improving health literacy is about helping everyone access, understand and use health information in a way that works for them. Another important part of making health care accessible is ensuring people receive the right support and adjustments during appointments.
At Healthwatch North Yorkshire, we are asking people to tell us about one recent health appointment they have had. This might be at a GP practice, a dental or hospital appointment. We want to understand what reasonable adjustments were in place, whether it was a great experience, whether adjustments were missing, or if it was somewhere in between. Hearing about what works well is just as valuable as learning where things could be better.
Reasonable adjustments are changes or extra support that help people access care in a way that works for them. This could mean having more time with the person giving you treatment, receiving information in large print or easy read, arranging step free access or being supported by another person during an appointment.
Take part in our survey on health appointments here
We also want to hear from anyone who has found health information difficult to access or understand, such as hospital appointment letters sent through the post, or conversations with a doctor about symptoms and treatment. These experiences link closely to health literacy, as understanding information is an important part of feeling confident and supported in your care.
