What an informed patient means for the future of healthcare

Professionalism is the basis of medicine's contract with society, and the principle of patient autonomy is a fundamental value of our profession. Physicians must respect patient autonomy by being honest and empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health. What information do patients need to understand in order to be able to take care of their health? How do we make sure that information is adequately communicated so that everyone who needs it can access and understand it? Health literacy is increasingly recognised as essential for successful access, navigation, self-care and management of health and wellness in America. Unfortunately, there is a large gap between the literacy demands of the health system and the health literacy skills of most Americans. A recent Institute of Medicine report concludes that nearly half of American adults have difficulty understanding and acting upon health information. Low health literacy is associated with less knowledge of diseases and self-care, worse self-management skills, lower medication compliance rates, higher rates of hospitalisation and worse health outcomes. Health literacy problems are magnified as patients are increasingly asked to take more responsibility for their health in a healthcare system that is increasingly complex, specialised and technologically sophisticated. Most would agree that is it hard to be a patient these days; health literacy is needed for navigating and understanding what you need to do. Improving health literacy is essential for improving quality, reducing disparities and reducing costs.