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 Making it Easier. Health Literacy Action Plan – UK (Scotland)

 Aim and objectives:

“Making it easier”, which is Scotland’s second action plan on health literacy developed by the NHS, sets out an action plan for improving health literacy in Scotland 2017-2025. The first plan was titled “Making it easy”. The action plan aims to remove barriers and prevent them being put there in the first place. 

 Target group:

The action plan is aimed at health providers, patient organisations and decision-makers.

 Method:

The action plan focuses on four areas:

  • share the learning from “Making it Easy” across Scotland;
  • embed ways to improve health literacy in policy and practice;
  • develop more health literacy responsive organisations and communities;
  • design support and services to better meet people’s health literacy levels.

 Outcome:

The health literacy action plan helps to improve how to design and deliver services in the future based on supporting people’s needs through shared decision-making.

 Added value:

The health literacy action plan sets out the ambition for Scotland to be a health literate society that enables the population to have the confidence, knowledge, understanding and skills to maintain good health.

 Making it Easier. Health Literacy Action Plan - UK (Scotland)

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Back 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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