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American Health Illiteracy Costs U.S. Billions
Lindsay Fetzner
Issue date: 6/9/08 Section: News
While health related issues - from affordable health care to easy exercise tips - are often in the headlines, a UConn study reveals that overall, Americans are uneducated on matters concerning their health.
Only 12 percent of Americans are health literate enough to handle their own care, according to the 2007 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.
Health illiteracy harms not only patients and the quality of care that they receive but the economy as well. It is estimated that poor health literacy costs the United States between $106 and $236 billion dollars annually, according to a UConn report released last year.
"Many people do not have primary care physicians and if they become sick, they go to the emergency room," said Julia Morrison, a 7th-semester nursing student at Simmons College in Boston, Mass. "This can increase hospital costs and become a detriment to the economy as well."
Many Americans go to the emergency room when they experience health problems because they don't know where else they can go, according to Megan Enzmann, a 7th-semester allied health science major.
In 2003, Americans made 113.9 million visits to hospital emergency rooms, a 26 percent increase from 1993. At the same time, hospital emergency departments have decreased about 12.3 percent, according to the National Center for Health Statistics for May 2002.
American health illiteracy is a worsening epidemic. In 2003, 22 percent of people were classified as having basic health literacy whereas an astonishing 14 percent ranked below basic, according to a Reuters article. Nearly one -third of people did not have the ability to determine their medical dosage stated on their prescription bottle.
Health illiteracy is the result of several factors, including demographics, age and education. Minorities such as blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans are more likely to score under the categories of below basic health literacy. Furthermore, they are more likely to lack health insurance, according aarticle.
Only 12 percent of Americans are health literate enough to handle their own care, according to the 2007 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.
Health illiteracy harms not only patients and the quality of care that they receive but the economy as well. It is estimated that poor health literacy costs the United States between $106 and $236 billion dollars annually, according to a UConn report released last year.
"Many people do not have primary care physicians and if they become sick, they go to the emergency room," said Julia Morrison, a 7th-semester nursing student at Simmons College in Boston, Mass. "This can increase hospital costs and become a detriment to the economy as well."
Many Americans go to the emergency room when they experience health problems because they don't know where else they can go, according to Megan Enzmann, a 7th-semester allied health science major.
In 2003, Americans made 113.9 million visits to hospital emergency rooms, a 26 percent increase from 1993. At the same time, hospital emergency departments have decreased about 12.3 percent, according to the National Center for Health Statistics for May 2002.
American health illiteracy is a worsening epidemic. In 2003, 22 percent of people were classified as having basic health literacy whereas an astonishing 14 percent ranked below basic, according to a Reuters article. Nearly one -third of people did not have the ability to determine their medical dosage stated on their prescription bottle.
Health illiteracy is the result of several factors, including demographics, age and education. Minorities such as blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans are more likely to score under the categories of below basic health literacy. Furthermore, they are more likely to lack health insurance, according aarticle.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Losing Weight
posted 6/17/08 @ 3:22 PM EST
Because these people cannot pay for their health care, this would be a good reason to make things like smoking and trans fats illegal. Since thesse people are hurting everyone else and the country by using them. (Continued…)
Lemonade Diet
posted 7/20/08 @ 12:32 AM EST
I think that it is time to start teaching kids about health in schools. This is something that they can use the rest of their life unlike other things taught in school. (Continued…)
Vasilica
posted 8/02/08 @ 11:29 AM EST
As long as most Americans (I am not generalizing) prefer to remain ignorant and not ask questions, this problem shall remain a problem. I must say, though, that I have noticed that the health people (doctors, nurses, etc. (Continued…)
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