Looking Ahead: Health Literacy

Health literacy is the ability of individuals to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions (Nutbeam et al., 2018). Low health literacy contributes to medication errors, unnecessary emergency department visits, and readmissions, placing both patients and the healthcare system at risk (Mikkonen & Raphael, 2010).

In the post-discharge period, patients often leave hospital without fully understanding their care plan, medications, or available community support. This gap is magnified for vulnerable populations such as older adults, people with lower educational attainment, or those with language and cultural barriers. Poor and unequal living conditions are consequences of weak policies and governance rather than individual failure (Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2008). Improving health literacy is therefore both an equity issue and a population health priority.

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My personal learning goals for this project include strengthening my ability to link theory and practice. While I already manage initiatives such as Virtual Recovery After Surgery (VRAS) and discharge call programs, my goal is to refine these practices with an evidence-based health promotion focus. I hope to build my skills in designing interventions that not only address immediate patient needs but also influence proactive policy planning.

Health Literacy = Empowered Patients

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I am excited to explore the literature on how health literacy interventions can improve equity in patient care. From my professional experience, I know patients often struggle to understand their care plan after discharge, leading to unnecessary readmissions or unsafe recovery environments. I want to learn more about strategies, both in Canada and internationally, that have been effective in empowering patients and families with clear, accessible information.

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One concern I have is translating the theory-heavy frameworks into practical, measurable outcomes. For example, while the Ottawa Charter (WHO, 1986) emphasizes supportive environments and personal skill development, it is sometimes difficult to quantify these concepts in a hospital setting, along with the limited resources and funds.

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A challenge will be narrowing the scope of the project. Health literacy intersects with so many determinants of health, including, education, income, and access to care. There is a risk of the project becoming too broad. It may also be challenging to collect and interpret data that reflects both system outcomes, like less ED visits and patient-centered experiences and outcomes.  

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Above all, I want to learn how to evaluate the long-term impact of health literacy interventions. While immediate benefits such as reduced ED visits are important, I want to understand how improved health literacy translates into broader outcomes such as reduced inequities, better chronic disease management, and stronger community capacity. I am excited to see what future IT solutions, like AI may be able to play a part in this care stream.

Commission on Social Determinants of Health. (2008). Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health. Final report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-IER-CSDH-08.1

Mikkonen, J., & Raphael, D. (2010). Social determinants of health: The Canadian facts. York University. https://thecanadianfacts.org/

Nutbeam, D., Levin-Zamir, D., & Rowlands, G. (2018). Health literacy and health promotion in context. Global Health Promotion, 25(4), 3-5.Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. (1986). First International Conference on Health Promotion, Ottawa, 21 November 1986. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/ottawa-charter-for-health-promotion

World Health Organization. (1986). Ottawa charter for health promotion, 1986 (No. WHO/EURO: 1986-4044-43803-61677). World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/health-promotion/population-health/ottawa-charter-health-promotion-international-conference-on-health-promotion/charter.pdf