October Is Health Literacy Month!
Join Artcraft Health in celebrating as we spotlight the critical role of health education and health literacy in transforming behavior and improving health outcomes.
What is health education?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define health education as a process that helps patients and caregivers acquire functional health knowledge. Health education strengthens attitudes, beliefs, and the practice skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors for a lifetime.
What is health literacy?
Health literacy may be defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”
Health education leads to health literacy
“Information is passive, not memorable, while educational experiences engage patients in their own care and create those Aha moments that change behavior—moments that make the difference for patients becoming self-empowered, caregivers gaining confidence, and healthcare providers understanding and partnering on a patient’s journey toward successful treatment and self-care.”
Health literacy can improve outcomes
In their 2022 review of health literacy in the United States, the Milken Institute says that when people have access to accurate, easy-to-use information, they can protect and promote their health by adopting healthy behaviors and following recommendations. Proficiency in health literacy improves health status, reduces health-service use and costs, and extends lives.
The Milken Institute review revealed that the consequences of inadequate health literacy include lower adherence to preventive behaviors, weaker compliance with health interventions, and poor self-care. Furthermore, the review found that people who are health illiterate are likely to experience extended hospital stays and avoidable readmissions and undergo unnecessary emergency care.
At Artcraft Health, we understand that when patients and caregivers receive relevant, actionable education that reflects who and where they are, they are more likely to adopt lifestyle changes, adhere to treatments, and experience better outcomes.
We know that the right kind of education at the right time can motivate behavior change. When education transforms behavior, it’s a game changer.