The Medical Library Association Guide to Health Literacy

Sarah Mccord

doi:10.3163/1536-5050.97.2.019

Abstract

The Medical Library Association Guide to Health Literacy

Highlights

Health literacy is a timely topic receiving increasing interest throughout the health care community, especially since the publication of the Institute of Medicine’s report Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion [1] This book is the first work to address health literacy in the context of librarianship
While the preface states the book ‘‘is not meant to be read from cover to cover’’ (p. xii), the progression from theoretical background to practical application to future directions is a logical one, and one could imagine the work being used as a text in a course with a case study and independent project component
Chapter two is a comprehensive review of the literature, and chapter three introduces a model that broadens the definition of health literacy beyond the patient’s interactions with text or numerical data

Summary

Introduction

[1] This book is the first work to address health literacy in the context of librarianship. In keeping with this broad perspective and in recognition of the complexity of the issues surrounding health literacy and the different environments in which librarians practice, the editors have not imposed one specific definition of the phrase. Chapter four provides an extensive overview of culturally competent health care from a medical librarianship perspective and proposes an eight-module course for medical librarians to improve cultural competence in the profession.

Results

Conclusion