Glossary of select terms found in health literacy competencies (Table 4) and practices (Table 5)

Term	Definition
Clear health communication	Clear health communication is written or oral communication that helps patients to understand and act on health care information (Pfizer Inc., 2013).
Health literacy	Health literacy is the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand health information and services in order to make appropriate health decisions (Somers & Mahadevan, 2010). Health literacy involves reading, writing, speaking, listening, numeracy, and cultural and conceptual knowledge (Nielsen-Bohlman et al., 2004), including navigation of health care systems (Kutner et al., 2006). Health literacy allows the public and personnel working in all health-related contexts to find, understand, evaluate, communicate, and use information (Coleman et al., 2010). Health care professionals can be “health literate” by presenting information in ways that improve understanding and the ability of people to act on that information (Coleman et al., 2010).
Jargon	Jargon refers to words, phrases, or concepts, including numerical or mathematical information, which might not be fully understood, or may be misinterpreted by the recipient (Nielsen-Bohlman et al., 2004).
Numeracy	Numeracy is defined as a working knowledge of numbers (Osborne, 2005). Basic numeracy includes the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and act on numerical information and concepts encountered in routine oral and written communications. The related term, quantitative literacy, defined as “the knowledge and skills required to apply arithmetic operations, alone or sequentially, using numbers embedded in printed materials” (Kirsch et al., 1993) can be applied to oral communication as well.
Plain language	Sometimes called everyday language or living room language (AMA Foundation, 2007), plain language refers to written or oral communication that is clear, concise, organized, and jargon-free (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012a). A communication is considered to be in plain language if audience members can quickly and easily find what they need, understand what they find, and act appropriately on that understanding the first time they read or hear it (Center for Plain Language, 2012).
Teach-back	Teach back, also referred to as an interactive communication loop, is an iterative technique used to confirm understanding and correct misunderstanding of information by asking patients to explain back or demonstrate (“show back”) in their own way what they have understood (Schillinger et al., 2003).
Universal precautions for safe communication	Universal precautions for safe communication is a communication strategy that assumes that all health care encounters are at risk for communication errors, and aims to minimize risk for everyone (DeWalt et al., 2010).
Usability	Usability refers to how well users can learn and use a product to achieve their goals and how satisfied they are with that process (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012b).

Note. AMA = American Medical Association.