Background Document on Literacy and Health

Annex 3. Definition of Terms

Literacy:

It is the ability to understand and employ printed information in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community to achieve one's goals, and to develop one's knowledge and potential.

As defined in Appendix D of Health Canada. Health Promotion and Programs Branch. Policy Development and Coordination Division. Report of the August 1997 roundtable on literacy and health, December 1997, p. 16.

Functional literacy:

The ability to use reading, writing, and computational skills at a level adequate to meet the needs of everyday situations.

From Williams, Mark V, Parker, Ruth M., Baker, David, and Nurss, J.R. Inadequate Functional Health Literacy Among Patients at Two Public Hospitals. In JAMA, December 6th, 1995

Health literacy:

The ability to use written materials to function in health care settings and to maintain one's health and the skills needed to advocate for and request needed clarification.

From Rudd, Rima E. and Moeykens, Barbara. Adult educators perceptions of health issues and topics in adult basic education programs. NCSALL (National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy) Report no.8, August 1999, p. 1.

Functional health literacy:

Ability of patients to complete successfully basic reading and numeracy tasks required to function adequately in the health care setting (for example, read and understand prescription bottle labels, appointments slips, complete financial eligibility requirements).

From Williams, Mark V, Parker, Ruth M., Baker, David, and Nurss, J.R. Inadequate Functional Health Literacy Among Patients at Two Public Hospitals. In JAMA, December 6th, 1995.

or

Ability to apply literacy skills to health-related materials such as prescriptions, appointment cards, medicine labels, and directions for home health care.

Taken from Nutbeam, Don. Literacies across the lifespan: Health literacy. Literacy and Numeracy Studies. Vol 9 No.2 1999.