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Health Literacy Research and Practice


Health Literacy Research and Practice is an interdisciplinary and international publication dedicated to promoting excellence in research and practice to advance the field of health literacy, promote health equity, and reduce health disparities.

Articles are open access and published online only. The journal features "rolling publication" (i.e., articles are published online as soon as the editing/production process is complete), organized into four quarterly issues (January, April, July, and October).



“If you notice when health care is too complex, if you worry that public health is too complicated, then you’re interested in health literacy”. Michael Paasche-Orlow, MD, MA, MPH, Editor-in-Chief HLRP



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Recently Released Articles

Find summaries of articles published in our online, open access, peer-reviewed journal, Health Literacy Research and Practice, as well as links to read those articles and more, at no cost.   

The Importance of Choosing a Health Insurance Policy and the Ability to Comprehend That Choice for Citizens in the Netherlands

In a health insurance system based on managed competition, such as in the Netherlands, it is important that all citizens can make well-informed decisions on which policy fits their needs and preferences best. However, this study shows that a section of the population do not have the appropriate skills to decide which insurance policy best fits their needs and preferences. It is important to tailor information on health insurance to the specific needs and skills of the individual. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(4):e287–e294.]


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Health Literacy and Intercultural Competence Training

This study examined an educational intervention for second-year nursing students that combined an Intercultural Competence and Health Literacy curriculum. A total of 157 students in two different programs participated in a two-part lecture with a moderated panel prior to beginning clinical fieldwork. HL knowledge and belief measures increased significantly. Self-efficacy in Intercultural Competence and beliefs and knowledge in HL increased over time. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(4):e283–e286.]


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Using Feasibility Data and Codesign to Refine a Group-Based Health Literacy Intervention for New Parents

Parenting Plus is a weekly group-based health literacy program that includes four 2-hour sessions. In this brief report, the authors describe how feasibility findings were incorporated into the Parenting Plus program using a codesign process to revise and re-evaluate the program. The revised program was shown to be acceptable to new parents, has good retention (93% over the course of 4 weeks), and can improve health literacy skills, including access to reliable health information and services. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(4):e276–e282.]


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Understanding and Advancing Organizational Health Literacy Within a Public Health Setting

In this study, Dr. Natalie Kružliaková and colleagues describe the use of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit to conduct an organizational health literacy needs assessment and improvement plan in a public health setting, the Virginia Department of Health. Assessment of staff and clients revealed strengths and weaknesses in organizational health literacy practices. Feedback guided efforts to improve organizational health literacy capacity. Many health and public health organizations can learn from this example and use the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit to improve services.


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Health Literacy: An Interactive Outcome Among Secondary Students in Beijing

In this study Dr. Guo et al examined health literacy among 650 students (ages 11-17) in Beijing. Study results showed that students with low self-efficacy, low social support, and low perceptions of positive school environment were more likely to have low health literacy, which in turn predicted poor health status. We will need to face the challenge of low health literacy across the lifecourse and in many contexts.


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