What's in a Name? Health Literacy Leaders Say Plenty!

ABSTRACTAnalysis of 100 in-depth interviews with academic, clinical, educational, and administrative leaders in health literacy examined these experts' definitions of health literacy and explored emerging themes pertaining to the status and definition of the concept. Drawing on Nutbeam's (1999, 2000) trilevel model of health literacy and Shannon and Weaver's (1949) information model of communication, the authors propose a process model of health literacy comprising four primary factors: message (the health-related informational component); information-based action (individuals' understandings of and use of health information beyond simply receiving the information); communication tools (the channels by which individuals receive health information); and the health care system (an environment where health care is provided and performed). The health literacy experts interviewed in this study perceived most problems in the message and health care system components, followed by communication tools and action. ...