Health literacy involves a person being able to understand basic health information whether they receive it in writing, in person or over the phone.

Being health literate means that you are clearly and accurately informed about your health. It involves you taking part in the decision making process and understanding your options when you fill out a consent form, go around a hospital or follow your doctors advice.

Research suggests that people with low health literacy:

• make more mistakes with their medication or treatment ;
• are less able to follow treatments;
• do not have the skills they need to deal with the healthcare system; and
• are at a higher risk for hospitalisation than people with adequate literacy skills.