Nurses Urged to Have Increased Patient Role.

• Position: HEALTH LITERACY

The American Academy of Nursing has released a policy brief urging nurses to have an increased role in enhancing health literacy for patient populations.

Health literacy is a precursor to health, and is defined broadly as an individual's ability to have control over his or her health. It also includes a patient's ability to access, comprehend, and utilize health information for this purpose. Patients who have low health literacy are more likely to experience poorer overall health status, and health literacy is acknowledged as one of the social determinants of health.

Lower health literacy is prevalent among the elderly, poor, and chronically sick, as well as ethnic minorities. Despite the linkages between low health literacy and poorer health outcomes, promoting health literacy for patients has not been a priority.

"The Academy publishes this policy brief to call on nurses to engage in health literacy activities for patient empowerment," says Karen Cox, president. "Health literacy activities are well-aligned with the Academy's mission and strategic plan, and aids in our work to create a culture of health."

"Research into consequences of, and solutions to...