Health Literacy Assessment: Feasibility in a Breast Surgical Oncology Clinic

Health literacy is recognized as an integral component of high-quality health care. However, health literacy has been understudied in the context of cancer care delivery and surgical decision making. The goal of this article is to outline a process for implementation of a health literacy screening assessment within the routine practices of an academic breast surgical oncology clinic. The self-reported health literacy assessment is feasible, particularly with integration of the health literacy screen in the electronic health record. The authors' estimated clinic prevalence of low health literacy was 22%, which has numerous implications for communication and shared decision-making processes.
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