Library outreach: overcoming health literacy challenges.
OBJECTIVE
This paper examines the powerful influences of consumer health literacy on access to and use of relevant health information.


METHODS
The paper describes how widespread problems with health literacy significantly limit effective dissemination of relevant health information in society, especially to many vulnerable populations where health literacy challenges are especially pervasive.


RESULTS
The paper examines strengths and weaknesses of different programs for addressing health literacy problems, including educational programs, message design programs, and strategic communication training and intervention programs.


CONCLUSIONS
The paper evaluates strategies that can be implemented throughout the modern health care system to address problems of health literacy by improving health information access, processing, and understanding. It concludes by examining several strategies that libraries can adopt to overcome many health literacy challenges.
Parker
Ruth
R
Emory University School of Medicine, Mailstop 1480/002/1AA, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rpark01@emory.edu
Kreps
Gary L
GL
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D018966:Library Materials / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007999:Library Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States