What is the role of healthcare professionals in improving health literacy?

• A. To ensure health information is communicated clearly and understood by patients
• B. To diagnose more diseases
• C. To replace patient education with brochures
• D. To limit information to medical jargon

Answer: (A)

Clear communication by healthcare professionals is essential to health literacy. Health literacy means patients can understand health information well enough to make informed decisions about their care. Professionals support this by using plain language, avoiding medical jargon, and checking that the message is understood. Techniques like the teach-back method—having patients repeat the information in their own words—help confirm understanding. Tailoring information to the patient’s language, culture, and literacy level, providing culturally appropriate materials, and using visuals or simple summaries can also improve comprehension. When information is clear and understood, patients are more likely to follow treatment plans, ask questions, and engage in self-care, which enhances safety and outcomes. The other options don’t fit because diagnosing more diseases isn’t about literacy; relying on brochures alone assumes patients will read and understand without support; and limiting information to medical jargon makes the message inaccessible.