Dr. Rima Rudd, Senior Lecturer on Society, Human Development, and Health,
Harvard School of Public Health

“Health literacy emerged as a concern and a new field of inquiry in the 1990s as health educators, nurses, and doctors examined findings from international surveys of adults’ literacy skills and considered possible health implications. The field can now boast of a substantial body of literature, with well over 1,000 peer reviewed articles, that has established clear links between literacy and health.

We know, for example, that most health materials, printed for patient use, is actually written at reading grade levels that exceed the average reading skills of most adults in industrialized nations. This mismatch between demands and expectations of health systems and the actual skills of most adults has health related consequences. Adults with limited literacy skills face the same health-related challenges as adults with strong literacy skills. They too need to establish a healthy diet, maintain a healthy lifestyle, take care of their family, engage in safe work practices, and contribute to the well-being of their communities. They are faced with new information, are asked to understand and take action in the face of new diseases and new therapies.

Sadly, adults are often provided with unnecessarily complex materials that do not function as the tools and aides they are meant to be. In addition, expectations and demands of health systems exceed the skills of adults using these systems. It is no wonder then that, as many studies now indicate, that literacy skills of patients are linked to health outcomes and predict knowledge, chronic disease management, hospitalization, and even mortality.”

Dr Rima Rudd visited Ireland in  February 2009 when she met with representatives from the Health Service  Executive, the Department of Health, the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)  and the Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare. Dr Rudd also had  the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Irish Cancer Society,  Arthritis Ireland,  the Irish Heart Foundation, Debra Ireland and the St Vincent de Paul Society.

To  read a Health Literacy Report arising from her visit, please the links below.

Rima Rudd - Advocacy Group Report
Rima Rudd - Policymakers Report