HeLP: Health Literacy in Pharmacy project. Full final report

Abstract

Introduction: Health literacy is defined by the World Health Organization as “the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health.” The concept of health literacy and its effect on the Quality Use of Medicines is relatively new to pharmacy practice, especially in Australia. Interventions to bridge the educational gap for practising pharmacists and pharmacy staff regarding health literacy communication techniques to use with consumers in Australia are non-existent, albeit very limited. This is despite the fact that up to 60% of Australians between the ages of 15 and 74 have limited health literacy.