Health Literacy
Posted by: Barbara Bibel
October is both Medical Librarians’ Month and Health Literacy Month. The two are closely related. Health literacy is the ability to understand basic information about the body and health care, allowing a person to participate in his/her health care. The lack of health literacy skills is a major problem, leading to complications when patients do not takemedication properly, follow prescribed diets, etc. Librarians play an important role in developing health literacy. By creating collections at various reading levels and in appropriate languages, working with health care providers to include the information in the treatment plan, and doing outreach in the community to spread the word about library resources, they help to improve community health. Research shows that informed patients who understand their conditions and treatment regimes have better outcomes. Librarians can feel good about participating in this effort.
