Health Literacy Resources

What is Health Literacy?

Health literacy is your ability to find, understand, and use health information to make good choices about your care. For people dealing with complex medical conditions and their caregivers, good health literacy skills are very important for:

Tips for Better Health Understanding

Ask Questions

Never hesitate to ask your healthcare provider to:

  • Explain things in simpler terms
  • Slow down when explaining
  • Show pictures or models
  • Provide written instructions

Use Teach-Back

After receiving instructions:

  • Repeat information back in your own words
  • Demonstrate what you understood
  • Ask if you explained it correctly

Keep Records

Maintain a health notebook with:

  • List of medications
  • Important phone numbers
  • Questions for next visit
  • Notes from appointments

Helpful Resources

MA Health Literacy Resources

Resources from Mass Health Quality Partners

View Resources →

Disability Healthcare Access

MA Office on Disability healthcare guides

Access Guide →

Healthcare Visit Planner

Printable worksheets to prepare for medical appointments

Download Planner →

Plain Language Medical Dictionary

Look up medical terms in simple language

Open Dictionary →

Downloadable Resources

Question Prompt List

Common questions to ask your healthcare team

Download PDF

Medication Tracker

Keep track of your medications and schedules

Download PDF

Medical Terminology Glossary

Acute

A condition that develops suddenly and is usually severe but brief

Chronic

A condition that develops slowly and persists over a long period

Comorbidity

The presence of one or more additional conditions occurring with a primary condition