Introduction to health and medication literacy

Abstract

Health literacy is an important aspect of healthcare that has received significant global attention in recent years. For healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, understanding the definition, conceptual framework, historical evolution, and current perspectives of health literacy is essential for improving health outcomes. Beyond basic reading comprehension, health literacy encompasses an individual's and an organization's ability to navigate, understand, appraise, and utilize health-related information and services to make informed decisions about their health and the well-being of others. This multifaceted concept includes reading, writing, numeracy, communication, and effectively navigating complex health systems. While health literacy empowers people to take an active role in managing their health, medication literacy is a related subset of health literacy that encompasses the application of health literacy in medication use process. This chapter serves as a cornerstone and introduction to the health literacy and medication literacy concepts. It provides a comprehensive overview of health and medication literacy concepts, and sets the stage for subsequent chapters. Within this chapter, we explore foundational concepts, definitions, theoretical frameworks, global perspectives, challenges, and the pivotal role of healthcare providers in promoting health and medication literacy.