title: Public health literacy in America: an ethical imperative.
abstract: One of public health professionals' major challenges is to provide the public with messages that are understandable and based on science. Traditionally, public health communication efforts have focused on the science behind the message rather than on how the information should be communicated and whether the message is understood. With more than one third of the U.S. population struggling with low health literacy, ensuring that individuals understand critical health messages is an ethical imperative for public health agencies, organizations, and professionals. This paper explores the ethical implications of public health literacy and the steps the public health community needs to take to promote a society that is public health literate.
authors.affiliation: Emory Center on Health Outcomes and Quality, Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Rm 656, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. jagazma@sph.emory.edu
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gazmararian
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Jay M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: DeBuono
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004522:Educational Status; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000941:ethics*; D014481:United States