National Adult Literacy Database

The health-literacy connection

Authors: Doris E. Gillis

Have you ever left your doctor's office confused by the advice you were just given? At some time or other, most of us have felt limited in our knowledge and understanding of information related to our health.

Health literacy is a new concept that links our level of literacy with our ability to act upon health information and, ultimately, take control of our health. It builds upon the idea that both health and literacy are critical resources for everyday living.
Addressing health literacy means breaking down the barriers to health that low literacy creates

Added: 2006-07-24

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• Au-delà des mots

Authors: Doris E. Gillis

This article describes how a university/community partnership produced a research project that identified what needed to be done to address health literacy needs among a largely rural population in northeastern Nova Scotia.

Faculty from the departments of human nutrition, adult education and nursing at St. Francis Xavier University joined forces with five community-based literacy and health organizations in three counties to explore factors that influence the ways adults with limited literacy skills access and act upon health information and services. As well, the project sought to identify strategies for change that build upon existing capacities for achieving health.

The article follows the project from initial consultations to the establishment of a project advisory panel; the collection of data from participants; analysis of data; preparation of a discussion paper; roundtable discussions; and the establishment of priorities for action.

The article also discusses follow-up actions taken and the lessons learned from the project.

Funders:

• Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada

Added: 2010-03-17

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A Report of the Health Literacy in Rural Nova Scotia Research Project

Authors: Doris E. Gillis, B. Allan Quigley

It is well known that people who have trouble reading and writing often have poor health.

This is a report for a project called The Health Literacy in Rural Nova Scotia Research Project. During the project, people from various counties in Nova Scotia were brought together to learn more about how literacy affects health. Most importantly, the project was intended to find out what can be done to break down the barriers to health that low literacy creates.

Funders:

• OLES

Added: 2004-08-10

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