Key Reports and Other Resources
Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion
Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report
This report examines the body of knowledge that applies to the field of health literacy and recommends actions to promote a health-literate society.
What Did the Doctor Say? Improving Health Literacy to Protect Patient Safety
Joint Commission
This paper is a call to action for those who influence, develop or carry out policies that will lead the way to resolution of the issue.
Health Literacy in Primary Care: A Clinician's Guide
By Gloria Mayer, RN, EdD, FAAN, and Michael Villaire, MSLM
ISBN: 978-082610229-4
Written for the primary care practitioner, the text provides an in-depth view of the issue of health literacy, including definitions of low health literacy, a review of much current research and efforts to quantify the problem.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message
By Helen Osborne
ISBN-13: 978-0-7637-4550-9
This book is written for busy healthcare professionals who want to learn more about effectively communicating healthcare information. Topics are arranged from A to Z and cover a wide variety of strategies to communicate health messages. Each topic begins with "Starting Points" providing general information, often accompanied by a story or example.
Understanding Health Literacy
By Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD; Jonathan B. VanGeest,PhD; and Claire C. Wang, MD
ISBN: 978-1-57947-630-4
This resource aims to help physicians and others improve the quality of care for patients; help those in the medical community improve patient communications regarding medications, tests and procedures and informed consent; and guide those in medicine, public health, sociology and medical sociology.
