The authors discuss the serious consequences of low health literacy for individual health and the added demands it places on the health care system. Problems resulting from low literacy cause increased health complications and increased hospitalization for patients. Because of the inability for patients to understand medical instructions and directives by health professionals, many patients experience more health problems which lead to additional health care expenditures, translating to billions of dollars for the nation. The authors make important points, but much research is based on studies from a single public hospital. However, the facts presented provide valid information.
This report discusses the affects low health literacy has on a person's health status and why health literacy is important to overall health. Low health literacy affects a person's health status more than any other factor, including education, income, and employment or race. Because people with limited health literacy don't tend to seek preventative care and are less likely to follow prescribed treatments, health is compromised and the possibility of a hospital stay is more likely. The report aptly describes the reasons why health literacy is important.