Health Literacy as a Public Health Goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and commnication strategies

Published On: 1st September 2000

By: Don Nutbeam

Don Nutbeam’s paper identifies the failings of past educational programs to address social and economic determinants of health, and traces the subsequent reduction in the role of health education in contemporary health promotion. A health outcome model for health promotion is presented that highlights health literacy is a key outcome of health promotion. The paper sets out a Model of Health Literacy that has three levels; Functional, Interactive and Critical, that how it can lead to empowerment.

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