What is health literacy?

• A. The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
• B. The ability to read and interpret medical journals.
• C. The skill of translating clinical research into practice.
• D. The capacity to memorize medical terminology.

Answer: (A)

Health literacy is about what a person can do with health information and services to make informed decisions. It goes beyond reading ability to include obtaining information, processing and understanding it, evaluating options, and using it to act safely and effectively—like following treatment plans, understanding prescriptions, and navigating the healthcare system. This broader view explains why the best definition centers on capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. The other descriptions focus on narrow skills—reading medical journals, translating research into practice, or memorizing terminology—that don’t capture the everyday ability to understand and apply health information for personal care.