Table 1.

Commonly used definitions of Health Literacy

Authors	Year	Definition
Parker, Baker, Williams, and Nurss, p. 537 7	1995	being able to apply literacy skills to health-related materials such as prescriptions, appointment cards, medicine labels, and directions for health care
World Health Organization (WHO) Nutbeam, p.357 5	1998	health literacy represents the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health
American Medical Association Ad Hoc Committee on Health Literacy, p. 553 4	1999	a constellation of skills, including the ability to perform basic reading and numerical tasks required to function in the health care environment. Patients with adequate health literacy can read, understand, and act on health care information
Healthy People 2010 Ratzan and Parker, p.v 6	2000	the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions