Question

What does "health literacy" mean? How is this term defined by the Ad Hoc Committee on Health Literacy for the Council on Scientific Affairs of the AMA? Do you agree that an individual's health literacy is likely to be worse than their general literacy? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Health literacy means the ability of an individual to input, process and comprehend the basic health information and the services which they are receiving in their community in order to maintain their good health.

Ad Hoc committee on Health literacy of American Medical Association in 1999 has defined it as "cluster of expertise, including the skill to carry-out basic reading and numerical tasks which is required in order to function in the health care environment," and it also includes everyday health functions like "the potential to read and apprehend prescription bottles, appointment slips, and other essential health related materials" (American Medical Association, 1999).

Yes, I agree that the individual's health literacy is likely to be worse than their general literacy because the people are more dependent on the medical team on their health informations and they trust them more on their health conditions. They generally allow the medical professional to understand their condition and decide on their behalf. This is more common in developing countries like India and Nepal. Here the people completely trust their doctors for their health condition and do whatever they tell them to thinking he knows it better also with their medicine prescription they trust completely on their pharmacist and take whatever they have given without cross checking the names or dates. The people here blindly believe in their health caretakers. This mostly happens because of more illiterate people.