At all levels, greater efforts are needed to promote a culture of health literacy in order to foster equitable access to healthcare for all, including people in vulnerable situations. In practice, this means the development of public policy at the local, regional, national and international levels. This also requires cross-sectoral collaboration with other stakeholders (interest groups, coalitions, alliances, networks etc.) and capacity building in health authorities and systems to strengthen the capacity and skills of the workforce.  

Health literacy public policy

Health literacy public policy is increasing. Governments across Europe are mobilising forces to increase health literacy in collaboration with non-state stakeholders such as academia, industry, and NGOs. For instance, several European countries have adopted nationwide health literacy actions plans, such as Austria, Norway, Portugal, and the UK (Scotland), which are driving interventions and programmes nation-wide to enhance population health literacy.

Mobilising health literacy communities and ‘champions’

Fostering health literacy communities is a key component in the promotion of health equity. This is because health literacy is highly cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary. Increased collaboration across sectors and disciplines can enhance the knowledge transfer and outcome of health literacy partnerships and programmes. Formal and informal interest groups, coalitions, alliances, networks, platforms as well as institutes, organisations, and associations help to discuss, assess and strengthen health literacy capacities at various levels in society (some examples below).

To implement health literacy, change-agents are needed to develop and drive impact. These change-agents, often called ‘health literacy champions’, may come from policy, academia, practice or civic society. The presence of advocates for organisational change is critical, however, their impact depends highly on support from leadership. A management structure and culture that supports health literacy innovation and quality improvement is essential for a successful implementation (example far below).

Capacity building in health authorities and systems

Health literacy authorities and systems become more ‘people-centred’ when they integrate health literacy as a cross-cutting, transversal value and strategy in all parts of their work. Resources include The ten attributes of health literate organizations, the Vienna model for health literate hospitals, and the Ophelia Toolkit (below) are examples of how to optimise health literacy in organisations and communities.

Health literacy as a professional skill – increasing the health literacy capacity of the workforce

Health literacy is creating job opportunities and requirements to enhance the workforce with the development of health literacy as a professional skill. Considering the general growth in health literacy research and policymaking, health literacy is becoming a skill and competency demanded by health authorities and systems.

This requires the inclusion of health literacy in the educational curricula of higher education and post-graduate training within a wide range of disciplines. In practice, this means attention to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health professionals, especially when dealing with people in vulnerable situations and those with limited levels of health literacy. In this regard, sensitivity towards culturally different people and groups in society is important. The integration of user-experience and testimonials as well as focus on the co-production of health services is also useful to develop.

Back Improving health literacy – Portugal

Improving health literacy – Portugal

 Aim and objectives:

In Portugal, the national action plan on health literacy aims to reach different parts of the population, including, for example, immigrant populations and temporary residents. The national action plan was launched after a survey revealed that up to 40% of the population had difficulties in accessing adequate and reliable information on health care. For young people, health information is often obtained via social media platforms which can be both a challenge and an opportunity to tailor and better direct health literacy towards their lifestyles. 

 Target group:

The success and development of the Action Plan will depend on the close coordination and work with the following strategic partners: Public, Social and Private Sectors; Ministries, General-Directorates and Inter-ministerial Committees; National Health Plan Health Programmes; other structures belonging to the Ministry of Health Academy, Professional Bodies, Scientific Societies, Private Institutions for Social Solidarity (IPSS), NGOs, Media, Social Media, Digital Media, Civil Society Patient Associations.

 Method:

The action plan focuses on four priorities:

  • adopting healthy lifestyles;
  • training for proper use;
  • promoting well-being;
  • promoting knowledge and research.

 Outcome:

The Action Plan facilitates the provision of instruments and tools to health professionals to promote health literacy; campaigns and thematic interventions are carried out for the population that promote health literacy; the network of stakeholders to incorporate and strengthen health Literacy promotion interventions and their impact are increased; and a monitoring committee with the purpose of supporting the prioritisation of actions and measures, and as a resource of excellence for the development of strategic information.

 Added value:

Whilst keeping a person-centred approach to interventions, the Action Plan intends to improve the health literacy levels of the Portuguese population continuously and consciously in a sustainable way. Deploying a life cycle approach is in line with other policy initiatives related to “Health Citizenship”, “Equity and Access to Healthcare”, “Quality in Health”, “Healthy Policies” and their respective objectives and goals.

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Back The International Health Literacy Association (IHLA)

The International Health Literacy Association (IHLA)

The International Health Literacy Association (IHLA) was inaugurated in 2017. The aim of IHLA is to unite people around the world working to promote health literacy with the purpose of creating health literacy for all and a world where people and societies can act to improve health and quality of life. The backbone of the organisation are the interest groups which develop and implement health literacy within a wide range of topics.

 International Health Literacy Association (IHLA)

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