Medicine
Influence of health literacy on chronic disease self-management
Quick fact
People with limited health literacy are up to two to three times more likely to have poor chronic disease management, including worse medication adherence and higher hospitalization rates, even after controlling for income and education.
Why this is interesting
You're handed a prescription for diabetes medicine and told to 'take as directed'—but what if you can't read the label or understand the instructions? Why do some patients manage their chronic illness successfully while others struggle, even with the same diagnosis?