Healthy People 2020 defines health literacy as what?

• A. The ability to memorize health facts
• B. The ability to speak with providers
• C. Capacity to obtain, interpret and understand basic health information and services and the competence to use such information to enhance health
• D. The ability to pay for services

Answer: (C)

Health literacy is about more than knowing health facts. The best choice captures the full ability to obtain, interpret and understand basic health information and services and the competence to use that information to improve health. In real life, this means you can access reliable information, read and grasp what it means, apply it to your situation, and act to enhance your health—such as following a medication regimen correctly, recognizing when to seek care, and navigating the health system to get the right services.

Memorizing facts alone doesn’t ensure you can use them in practice. Merely being able to speak with a provider is important for communication, but it doesn’t guarantee you can obtain or interpret information or make informed health decisions. The ability to pay for services isn’t health literacy, since literacy focuses on processing and applying health information, not financial means.