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Health Literacy in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Users: A Systematic Review
Chanelle Mastronardo1, Jon Adams1, Vicky Ward2
1School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
Journal of Health Communication
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Health literacy among users of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is often borderline-sufficient to moderate-high. Higher health literacy is linked to increased TCIM use and socioeconomic status.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Public Health
- Health Literacy Research
Background:
- Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is widely used, especially by those with chronic conditions.
- TCIM practitioners often educate patients on lifestyle factors impacting health outcomes.
- The potential of TCIM professionals in public health promotion is significant but underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the health literacy (HL) levels of TCIM users.
- To identify correlations between health literacy and TCIM utilization patterns.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across five major scientific databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus) from inception to January 2024.
- Inclusion of all relevant observational studies focusing on the health literacy of TCIM users.
- Analysis of data from 23 selected studies.
Main Results:
- Mean health literacy scores for most TCIM users ranged from 'borderline-sufficient' to 'moderate-high'.
- Findings suggest a potential association between higher health literacy and frequent engagement with TCIM practitioners or services.
- Higher socioeconomic status was positively correlated with both health literacy and TCIM use.
Conclusions:
- TCIM users generally exhibit moderate to high health literacy, suggesting effective health information engagement.
- Understanding the health literacy of TCIM users is crucial for tailoring public health policies and educational initiatives.
- Further research can optimize TCIM's role in preventive health by addressing the specific knowledge needs of its users.
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