Health information can be confusing for anyone. Clear health communication is an important part of a patient's ability to understand and act upon health information. This can include a patient's ability to follow instructions after a doctor's visit, to manage a chronic illness, or to take a medication properly. For health care practitioners, clear health communication guides which words are used, how directions are given, and what materials are presented when communicating with patients.
Health literacy is defined as the ability to read, understand, and act on health information. This widespread but hidden health challenge should serve as both a warning and a call to action: Understanding health information is everyone's right; improving clear health communication is everyone's responsibility.
The health literacy problem is a crisis of understanding medical information rather than of access to information. The health of 90 million people in the United States may be at risk because of the difficulty some patients experience in understanding and acting on health information — which, in turn, has a negative impact on health outcomes and the entire health care system.
Pfizer has taken a leadership role in advocating for clear health communication, partnering with nationally recognized organizations and experts to develop tools and solutions that can help improve communication between patients and providers.
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