How would you define health literacy?

Health literacy encompasses an individual's ability to find, understand, and use information to make informed choices about their health. It involves comprehension of health information and services to enable appropriate health decisions. Key components of health literacy include:

- Accessing health information: This involves the ability to locate and procure required health information through various sources, such as healthcare providers, educational resources, and the Internet.

- Understanding health information: Individuals need to be able to comprehend the information they find, including medical terminology, treatment options, and risks and benefits of different interventions.

- Applying health information: This refers to the ability to apply the acquired health knowledge to make well-informed decisions about personal health and healthcare options.

Health literacy goes beyond basic reading and writing skills; it involves critical thinking and decision-making abilities in the context of health information and healthcare interactions. It empowers individuals to actively participate in their own health management and healthcare decision-making processes.