Skip to main content
Health Literacy

Health literacy is "The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions." (National Library of Medicine)
Health literacy includes the ability to understand instructions on prescription drug bottles, appointment slips, medical education brochures, doctor's directions and consent forms, and the ability to negotiate complex health care systems. Health literacy is not simply the ability to read. It requires a complex group of reading, listening, analytical, and decision-making skills, and the ability to apply these skills to health situations.

Healthcare professionals have an important role to play in ensuring that health literacy of a society improves as they continue to serve in that community.  This is a worthy cause I would like to commit myself into.  And I need all the help I can get.  Would you care to join in to support me?

A program called "Ask Me 3" is designed to bring public and doctor attention to this issue, by letting patients know that they should ask three questions each time they talk to a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist:
  • What is my main problem?
  • What do I need to do?
  • Why is it important for me to do this?

Try it out.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Diabetes Center - About Us

Diabetes Malaysia Cawangan Negeri Pulau Pinang (formerly known as Persatuan Diabetis Malaysia PDM ) Established in 1996 under the leadership of Dr Pang Chu Yen , Preventive Care Expert & Consultant, it is now run by a group of volunteers, with a balanced mixture of Healthcare professionals and lay/public who are interested in diabetes care.   Motto:  "Empowering Diabetics and Carers toward Great QoL (Quality of Life)". Registered Address: C/O Penang Adventist Hospital 26-D, Scott Road 10350, Pulau Pinang Within Penang Adventist Hospital Tel :       +604 222 7735 Mobile : +6016 459 3031;   WhatsApp: +0124957570   Email:    diabetespenang@gmail.com or  diabetes@pah.com.my Facebook: Diabetes Malaysia, Penang Branch Current Office Bearers (2025 - 2027) Chairperson : Dr Dicky NG Teik Kee Vice Chair : Mr Sugumaran Honorary Secretary : Mr Wong Loy Ming Hon Asst Secretary : Ms Ho Mee Fung Hon Treasurer : ...
20 comments
Read more

Carcinogen Classification. Stuff to avoid

  August 22, 2025   We are afraid of dying slowly, ie Dementia, and Cancers.  If there is a way to prevent these, would you be interested?  Many would go for getting to the root causes, and manage exposure to these.  I want to write about cancer causing agents 1st. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has evaluated >1000 agents and classified them into classes according to likelihood (strength of evidence) as below:       Here is a short YouTube video explaining this table  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP60nNXqNOo   This time, FOR HEALTH, I bring up about WHAT TO AVOID. to stay in good health (the negatives).  Next week, I should talk about what to GET INTO OUR BODY, or DO to stay in good health (the positives). GROUP 1 means "confirmed" cancer causing agents. Here is the link to the list  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IARC_group_1  as of 2024. Here are some we are familiar with: Viruses - HIV, HPV, He...
Post a Comment
Read more

ANTIBIOTIC

  November 21, 2025   Antibiotic was a great discovery about 100 years ago. It saved many lives over the past century, likely someone closed to you have been protected by it, or even you, and me.     However, situation becomes more complex when it is overused.  Here is why: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) happens when germs—like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—stop responding to the medicines used to kill them. When this happens, antibiotics and other treatments no longer work well. This makes infections harder or sometimes impossible to treat, which can lead to more people getting sick, more severe illness, and more deaths. World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a worldwide event held every year from 18 to 24 November . Its goal is to help people understand what AMR is and why it is a serious problem, and to encourage countries and communities to take action. It is one of the official health campaigns of the World Health Organization (WHO). The th...
1 comment
Read more