Health literacy as a public health goal

A challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century

Bibliographic Data

ID23313774
AuthorsDon Nutbeam (0000-0001-6497-2827, The University of Sydney, corresponding author)
Year2000
Volume15
Issue3
Pages259-267
Publication date2000-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/15.3.259
OpenAlexW2105099865
LanguageEN
Citations received886
References cited3

Health literacy is a relatively new concept in health promotion. It is a composite term to describe a range of outcomes to health education and communication activities. From this perspective, health education is directed towards improving health literacy. This paper identifies the failings of past educational programs to address social and economic determinants of health, and traces the subsequent reduction in the role of health education in contemporary health promotion. These perceived failings may have led to significant underestimation of the potential role of health education in addressing the social determinants of health. A ‘health outcome model’ is presented. This model highlights health literacy as a key outcome from health education. Examination of the concept of health literacy identifies distinctions between functional health literacy, interactive health literacy and critical health literacy. Through this analysis, improving health literacy meant more than transmitting information, and developing skills to be able to read pamphlets and successfully make appointments. By improving people's access to health information and their capacity to use it effectively, it is argued that improved health literacy is critical to empowerment. The implications for the content and method of contemporary health education and communication are then considered. Emphasis is given to more personal forms of communication, and community-based educational outreach, as well as the political content of health education, focussed on better equipping people to overcome structural barriers to health.

Empowerment · Health belief model · Health care · Health communication · Health education · Health equity · Health literacy · Health promotion · HRHIS · Literacy · Outreach · Pedagogy · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Social determinants of health · Sociology · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Nursing · School Health and Nursing Education · Health Policy

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