How Well Do I Understand My Health Information?

By Vicki Vann, Patient Education Specialist and
Prado Antolino, Manager of Language Services

Health literacy is being able to find, understand and use information and services that will help you make health-related decisions about your care. Only 12% of adults in the United States have the health literacy skills needed to use and understand our health care system. 

Health care professionals have a responsibility to keep information and instructions simple. They may ask you to repeat instructions to make sure you clearly understand them. This is a process called teach-back and is a way of confirming you understand.

It is important that health care professionals consider language barriers when providing patient information.

Low health literacy skills combined with a language barrier could possibly cause misunderstanding of information you receive. If English is not your first language, using an interpreter through our Department of Language Services (in-person or remote interpretation, as well as written translation) is an important service we offer to help you fully understand the information and instructions you receive. You or your caregiver can request interpreting services or written materials in a language you prefer. 

If you do not understand any information you have received, please let your health care team know. It is very important to clearly understand your diagnosis, treatment options, procedures, medications and any written/verbal instructions you have received. We are here to help! 

Health literacy skills include:

• Being able to use printed and electronic health care information
• Knowing how to fill a prescription or read prescription instructions
• Being able to make appropriate health care decisions
• Being able to read and understand health care instructions

Not having these skills increases health care costs and is directly related to:

• Longer hospital stays or emergency department visits
• Medication errors
• Missed appointments

Visit CDC.Gov/HealthLiteracy to find more information about health literacy. To find easy to understand educational materials visit Patient and Family Libraries on the Magnolia and McKinley campuses. Call 813-745-1690 for hours and locations.

* Reference: US Dept. of HHS: Healthy People 2020