Advancing health literacy through primary health care systems

Abstract

Evidence from Australia and elsewhere shows that large numbers of people do not have the level of health literacy needed to navigate the health care system and manage their health. Health literacy refers to a range of abilities, from basic literacy and numeracy to more advanced skills that promote health, and help to prevent illness, maintain health care and successfully navigate the health care system for health benefit. Awareness and recognition of the significance of health literacy to support health outcomes and to ameliorate health care costs has been slow to materialise in Australia. National comprehensive policy and practice initiatives have not been developed. This systematic review addresses the question, ‘what are the characteristics of a primary health care system that supports and enables the development of health literacy and what are the drivers and barriers of such a system?’