Low Health Literacy (LHL): A Devious Enemy of Patient Treatment Guideline Adherence

Abstract

People must have particular personal attributes and social resources, also known as health literacy, to obtain, comprehend, and use the information to make decisions about their health. Health literacy is closely related to patients' capacity for multiple disease management and self-care. Preventing illness and successfully treating existing illnesses can help us maintain our health. The ability to find, understand and use information and services to support health-related decisions and actions of one and the other is referred to as personal health literacy. Health literacy is recommended by the World Health Organization as a tool for achieving several specific goals outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. LHL is most frequently associated with mature patients with chronic illnesses who have limited education and are not necessarily from a lower-income group. Furthermore, literacy in general does not imply literacy in health.