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Understanding critical health literacy: a concept analysis
Susie Sykes1, Jane Wills, Gillian Rowlands
1Faculty of health and Social care, London South Bank University, 101 Borough Road, SE1 OAA, London, UK. susiesykes@mac.com
BMC Public Health
|February 20, 2013
Summary
Critical health literacy involves advanced skills, knowledge, and empowerment for better health outcomes. However, its broader social and political impact is often overlooked in current interpretations.
Area of Science:
- Health Literacy Studies
- Public Health Research
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Health literacy discussions have evolved over two decades, distinguishing between functional, interactive, and critical health literacy.
- Critical health literacy (CHL) is the least developed, with varied interpretations of its components and significance.
- Existing definitions lack clarity, hindering the development of theory, practice, and measurement tools for CHL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To rigorously analyze the concept of critical health literacy (CHL).
- To provide a clearer definition of CHL for theoretical and practical applications.
- To inform the development of measurement tools for CHL.
Main Methods:
- Employed a theoretical and colloquial evolutionary concept analysis.
- Combined literature review with in-depth interviews of practitioners and policymakers.
- Analyzed the concept's understanding across different contexts (time, place, discipline, user groups).
Main Results:
- Identified key CHL features: advanced personal skills, health knowledge, information skills, effective service interactions, informed decision-making, and empowerment.
- Consequences of CHL include improved health outcomes, efficient health service utilization, and reduced health inequalities.
- CHL is relevant to public health and health promotion strategies.
Conclusions:
- CHL is a distinct concept, but understanding varies among academics, practitioners, and policymakers.
- Essential attributes like empowerment and political action have been diluted in recent interpretations.
- CHL risks being narrowly defined as an individual cognitive skill, losing its potential as a driver for social and political change.
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