Library Guides: Cultural Competency in Healthcare: Health Literacy & Patient Handouts

Health Literacy

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Literacy: Accurate, Accessible and Actionable Health Information for All
This site provides information and tools to improve health literacy and public health. These resources are for all organizations that interact and communicate with people about health, including public health departments, healthcare providers and facilities, health plans, government agencies, non-profit/community and advocacy organizations, childcare and schools, the media, and health-related industries.
The Health Literacy Tool Shed A database of health literacy measurements tools, including their psychometric properties. At this time, this website only includes tools that: 1. Are published in peer-reviewed journals, which describe the measure and its development process. 2. Were published prior to January 2014. and 3. Measure an individual’s health literacy. Some tools may require payment or author permission.
National Library of Medicine: Health Literacy and Cultural Competence: Data, Tools, and Statistics Websites and resources collected by the National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy (pdf) This National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy seeks to engage organizations, professionals, policymakers, communities, individuals, and families in a linked, multisector effort to improve health literacy. The plan is based on the principles that (1) everyone has the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions and (2) health services should be delivered in ways that are understandable and beneficial to health, longevity, and quality of life.

Consumer Friendly Resources

MedlinePlus: Easy to Read Materials
A to Z list of consumer health information on a variety of medical conditions, written in everyday English (and Spanish!)