Exploring the profound connection between literacy, health, and community well-being.
The ability to read is linked to numerous factors, including earning potential, economic success, and overall well-being. However, as many as 40 percent of Americans have some level of difficulty reading, and more than one in five adults are considered illiterate. Furthermore, in today’s world, the prevalence of mobile devices often surpasses the time spent reading books. However, it is crucial to remember the profound significance of reading actual, physical books.
In New Jersey, an estimated 21 percent of the adult population is illiterate, making it challenging for them to navigate the healthcare system and understand the options available to them. Studies show that those who have difficulty reading are less knowledgeable about the treatments they receive, are less likely to take advantage of preventive care options, have greater difficulty managing chronic illnesses, and are more likely than other patients to end up hospitalized.
This lack of” health literacy” is being addressed by the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the state of New Jersey, and Medicaid providers like Wellpoint New Jersey. The CDC defines health as an individual’s ability to locate, comprehend, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. This requires the ability to read at a functional level.
Reading comprehension is linked to health outcomes because it is a fundamental requirement for completing patient information forms, insurance provider forms, and other documents. It is also the patient’s ability to communicate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals that helps them accurately evaluate and convey the severity of symptoms, and enables them to properly administer medications.
Individuals with low literacy skills are often reluctant to admit they have difficulty reading, and many choose not to disclose this to even their spouses and partners. Social stigma can have significant negative implications for patients during conversations with healthcare providers. Research indicates that some patients limit their conversations and employ various strategies to conceal their limited reading comprehension. This can result in the provision of incomplete or misleading information to healthcare professionals.
Literacy is the single most significant factor in lifting people out of poverty, promoting social development, and contributing to good physical and emotional health.
It is essential to promote reading and literacy, and to focus on enhancing reading skills among elementary school students. While New Jersey schoolchildren read at higher levels than the national average, Kids Count, which provides data about the well-being of children and families, estimates that more than half of New Jersey fourth graders are not considered proficient in reading.
In recent years, Wellpoint New Jersey has hosted events and activities in conjunction with libraries across the state, Read Across America, and created a video library featuring celebrity entertainers, athletes, authors, politicians, and prominent community leaders with New Jersey roots reading stories for children. In addition, Wellpoint NJ donated copies of the books that were read to more than 800 elementary school classrooms around the state, allowing more than 15,000 students to continue enjoying the books on their own or along with teachers, family members, and friends.
According to the World Literacy Foundation, illiteracy costs the global economy $1.5 trillion annually. Improving reading skills helps the economy, improves lifelong learning, and helps build other skills.
It also improves health outcomes. Proficient readers can better follow instructions from their physicians and other healthcare providers and are more likely to seek medical help when needed.
Dr. Patrick Fox is the president of Wellpoint New Jersey. He received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers and has degrees from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now part of Rutgers School of Medicine) and Yale School of Medicine.
#LiteracyMatters, #HealthLiteracy, #ReadingForHealth
