Health Literacy for Patients
Understanding health information and knowing how to act on it empowers patients to make informed decisions about their treatment, recovery, and overall wellbeing.
What is Health Literacy?
Health literacy is more than just an individual’s ability to find, understand, and use health information. While personal knowledge and skills are important, the way healthcare information is presented and how services are delivered also play a critical role. Even the most informed person can struggle to navigate complex medical terminology, unclear instructions or overwhelming amounts of information.
Burnside Hospital is committed to improving how we communicate so that the health information we provide is accessible, clear, and easy to understand. We want you to feel confident in managing your health, asking questions, and seeking support when needed.
How Health Literacy Improves Your Care
- Better understanding of your condition – knowing more about your diagnosis and treatment options helps you actively participate in decisions about your care.
- Improved communication with healthcare providers – when information is clear, you can ask the right questions and express concerns effectively.
- Safer medication use – understanding how and when to take medications correctly can reduce errors and side effects.
- More confidence in navigating healthcare services – knowing where to go for healthcare services and who to speak to helps you to find the right care at the right time.
Resources to Support Your Health Literacy
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has developed consumer-friendly resources to help patients and families better understand the role of health literacy in improving healthcare outcomes.
To learn more, you can access:
At Burnside Hospital, we are committed to making health information clearer and more accessible so that you feel empowered in your care journey.
If you need clarification or further information please don’t hesitate to ask our staff - we are here to support you.
Consumer Approved Publications
Burnside Hospital chooses patient-facing materials that are clear, accessible, and aligned with best practices in health literacy.
Our Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) reviews and approves publications, ensuring they are easy to understand, informative, and patient-centred. Involving consumers in the development of our documents, helps to ensure that important health information is communicated in a clear, culturally appropriate and supportive way.
