Primary Health Care

Health Literacy

Health literacy is the ability to find, understand and use information, services and supports to make informed health choices.

Health literacy has the potential for improving health care access and quality as well as enhancing chronic disease management by improving the users' understanding.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, in partnership with literacy and health promotion leaders, continue to develop resources and supports to improve health literacy and provide health information that is clear and understandable. This approach reflects the diversity of the population served including the literacy levels of the target audience.

About the Health Literacy Tool

This resource is intended for health care and health promotion professionals and community partners who create, assess, and /or adapt health materials, forms, and signage.

Our goal in writing this resource is to share key concepts and practical tools needed to create health and health promotion materials, forms and signage that:

• are clear and understandable;
• are appropriate and responsive;
• reflect the culture, language and health literacy levels of the people we serve.

Tools:

• Health Literacy: Making the Connection Video
• Messages for All Voices - Quick Guide Reference Tool for Health Literacy
  (PDF - 12 pages (410KB))
• Messages for All Voices - Full Length Tool
  (PDF - 128 pages (2.8MB))