The Crucial Link between Literacy and Health
Authors: Jennifer Fisher Wilson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Current Clinical Issues18 November 2003The Crucial Link between Literacy and HealthJennifer Fisher WilsonJennifer Fisher WilsonAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-10-200311180-00038 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Ruth Parker, MD, a practicing internist and researcher at Emory University School of Medicine, was years into her medical career before she discovered the importance of literacy in patient care. The revelation came when she was collaborating with a colleague on research in the early 1990s at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, on waiting times in emergency departments. Much to her surprise, some patients completed the rather long surveys in just a few minutes.We began to think, there's no way that you could finish this thing so quickly. And it didn't happen just once or twice, it happened ...References1. Schillinger D, Grumbach K, Piette J, . Association of health literacy with diabetes outcomes. JAMA. 2002;288:475-82. [PMID: 12132978] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Williams MV, Baker DW, Honig EG, Lee TM, Nowlan A. Inadequate literacy is a barrier to asthma knowledge and self-care. Chest. 1998;114:1008-15. [PMID: 9792569] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Kalichman SC, Rompa D. Functional health literacy is associated with health status and health-related knowledge in people living with HIV-AIDS. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2000;25:337-44. [PMID: 11114834] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Lindau ST, Tomori C, Lyons T, Langseth L, Bennett CL, Garcia P. The association of health literacy with cervical cancer prevention knowledge and health behaviors in a multiethnic cohort of women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002;186:938-43. [PMID: 12015518] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Williams MV, Parker RM, Baker DW, . Inadequate functional health literacy among patients at two public hospitals. JAMA. 1995;274:1677-82. [PMID: 7474271] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Parker RM, Ratzan SC, Lurie N. Health literacy: a policy challenge for advancing high-quality health care. Health Aff Millwood. 2003;22:147-53. [PMID: 12889762] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Schillinger D, Bindman A, Wang F, Stewart A, Piette J. Functional health literacy and the quality of physician–patient communication among diabetes patients. Patient Education and Counseling. In press. Accessed at www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/07383991 on 8 October 2003. Google Scholar8. Schillinger D, Piette J, Grumbach K, . Closing the loop: physician communication with diabetic patients who have low health literacy. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:83-90. [PMID: 12523921] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Rudd RE, Moeykens BA, Colton TC. Health and literacy: a review of medical and public health literature.. In: Comings J, Garners B, Smith C, eds. Annual Review of Adult Learning and Literacy. New York: JosseyBass; 1999. Google Scholar10. Tappe MK, Galer-Unti RA. Health educators' role in promoting health literacy and advocacy for the 21st century. Journal of School Health. 2001;71:477-82. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Crucial Link between Literacy and Health David A. 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(II)An Approach to Develop Effective Health Care Decision Making for Women in PrisonMedication adherence: Factors influencing compliance with prescribed medication plansThe Crucial Link between Literacy and HealthDavid A. Nardone, MDEnhancing adherence to long-term medical therapy: A new approach to assessing and treating patientsThe demand for health and health concerns after 30 yearsCurricula to Promote Community Health 18 November 2003Volume 139, Issue 10Page: 875-878KeywordsAntiretroviralsCommunication in health careHealth careHealth information technologyInternetLiteracyPatientsPrevention, policy, and public healthType 2 diabetesViral load ePublished: 18 November 2003 Issue Published: 18 November 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...