TY  - JOUR
T1  - Health literacy: Report of the council on scientific affairs
AU  - Ad Hoc Committee on Health Literacy for the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association
Y1  - 1999/02/10
N1  - 10.1001/jama.281.6.552
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 552
EP  - 557
VL  - 281
IS  - 6
N2  - Context 
                  Patients with the greatest health care needs may have
the least ability to read and comprehend information needed to function
successfully as patients.Objective 
                  To examine the scope and consequences of poor health
literacy in the United States, characterize its implications for
patients and physicians, and identify policy and research issues.Participants 
                  The 12 members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Health
Literacy, American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs,
were selected by a key informant process as experts in the field of
health literacy from a variety of backgrounds in clinical medicine,
medical and health services research, medical education, psychology,
adult literacy, nursing, and health education.Evidence 
                  Literature review using the MEDLINE database for January
1966 through October 1, 1996, searching Medical Subject Heading (MeSH)
reading combined with text words health or
literacy in the title, abstract, or MeSH. A subsequent search
using reading as a search term identified articles published
between 1993 and August 1998. Authors of relevant published abstracts
were asked to provide manuscripts. Experts in health services research,
health education, and medical law identified proprietary and other
unpublished references.Consensus Process 
                  Consensus among committee members was reached
through review of 216 published articles and additional unpublished
manuscripts and telephone and Internet conferencing. All committee
members approved the final report.Conclusions 
                  Patients with inadequate health literacy have a
complex array of communications difficulties, which may interact to
influence health outcome. These patients report worse health status and
have less understanding about their medical conditions and treatment.
Preliminary studies indicate inadequate health literacy may increase
the risk of hospitalization. Professional and public awareness of the
health literacy issue must be increased, beginning with education of
medical students and physicians and improved patient-physician
communication skills. Future research should focus on optimal methods
of screening patients to identify those with poor health literacy,
effective health education techniques, outcomes and costs associated
with poor health literacy, and the causal pathway of how poor health
literacy influences health.
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.281.6.552
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.281.6.552
ER  -