Nearly nine out of 10 adults have difficulty using everyday health information to make good health decisions. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Roundtable on Health Literacy held a meeting on May 27, 2010, to explore areas for research in health literacy, the relationship between health literacy and health disparities, and ways to apply information technology to improve health literacy.

The disconnect between technology and traditional practices poses a significant challenge. Many healthcare professionals and individuals struggle to navigate the influx of emerging technologies, hindering the full realization of their potential in revolutionizing health literacy and medical practice. The lack of cohesive understanding and integration of technologies like mobile applications, wearable devices, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine impedes the seamless delivery of healthcare services and obstructs individuals from actively managing their health. Transformative Approaches to Patient Literacy and Healthcare Innovation offers a comprehensive solution to bridge the gap between healthcare and technology. Delving into the dynamic fusion of these domains, it unravels the transformative power of technology applications, showcasing how they enhance health literacy and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being. By providing insights into the integration of mobile health apps, electronic health records, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and more, the book equips readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape with confidence.

The development of better processes to relay medical information has enhanced the healthcare field. By implementing effective collaborative strategies, this ensures proper quality and instruction for both the patient and medical practitioners. Health Literacy: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice examines the latest advances in providing and helping patients and medical professionals to understand basic health information and the services that are most appropriate. Including innovative studies on interactive health information, health communication, and health education, this multi-volume book is an ideal source for professionals, researchers, academics, practitioners, and students interested in the improvement of health literacy.

While health literacy is a relatively new multidisciplinary field, it is vital to the successful engagement with and communication of health with patients, caregivers, and the public. This book ‘New Directions in Health Literacy Research, Theory, and Practice’ provides an introduction to health literacy research and practice and highlights similar scholarship in related disciplines. The book is organized as follows: the first chapter explains the still-evolving definition of health literacy; the next three chapters discuss developments and new directions in health literacy research, then a further two chapters are devoted to developments and new directions in health literacy theory. Two chapters explore health literacy interventions for vulnerable populations; four chapters cover health literacy leadership efforts; six chapters describe developments and new directions in disciplines that are similar to health literacy; and six chapters portray diverse health literacy practices. A preface from Richard Carmona M.D., the former U.S. Surgeon General, is included in the book. Although the book is intended primarily for health literacy researchers, practitioners and students, the diverse topics and approaches covered will be of interest to all healthcare and public health researchers, practitioners, and students, as well as scholars in related fields, such as health communication, science communication, consumer health informatics, library science, health disparities, and mass communication. As Dr. Carmona concludes in his preface: ‘This is essential reading for all health practitioners.’

In this anthology of health literacy, drawing on New Social Literacy studies and contemporary debates on equity, we discuss health literacy within German regional and cultural contexts as well as in selected non-European regions, such as in Asia and South America. Topics include unique reviews on health literacy, new empirical results on different population groups, in-depth ethnographic insights into social contexts, interventions intended to improve health literacy, and innovative theoretical dialogs. The discussions within this book provide new ideas and intriguing new results, also shedding light on the explanatory power of the health literacy concept as well as its boundaries.

“Health literacy is the ultimate global currency of health and well-being. Without health literacy, medicine fails, public health fails, and people pay the cost for these failures with their lives. As this book goes to press, the world is confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Improving health literacy becomes increasingly important if we are to successfully confront the challenges that stress our systems of medicine and public health like never before.” (Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, former Surgeon General of the United States, in his foreword to this book.) Two years ago, HTI published the book Health Literacy: New Directions in Research, Theory and Practice. Together with that earlier volume, this book: Health Literacy in Clinical Practice and Public Health: New Initiatives and Lessons Learned at the Intersection with other Disciplines, strives to enumerate and expand our understanding of the multidisciplinary connections which underpin the field of health literacy. The book’s balance between research and practice is a response to the feedback the editors received about the previous publication, which focused more on HL theory and research. With reports of specific health literacy research initiatives and interventions, particularly in clinical practice and public health, the book covers contemporary health literacy research and practice and is divided into three sections. Section one explores health literacy’s capacity to foster progress in clinical practice and public health; section two provides insights into health literacy initiatives and lessons learned from diverse healthcare stakeholders; and section three examines health literacy’s similarities with – and differences from – related health research disciplines. The book sets the practice and research of health literacy on an evidence-based, thoughtful, effective, efficient, and applied course. As Dr Richard Carmona says in his foreword: “It is enthusiastically recommended for all health and medical practitioners and researchers.”

Emerging Technologies for Health Literacy and Medical Practice unveils a transformative revolution brought about by emerging technologies, setting the stage for a paradigmatic shift from reactive medical interventions to proactive preventive measures. This transition has not only redefined the doctor-patient relationship but has also placed patients at the helm of their health management, actively engaged in informed decision-making. The book, a collective effort by experts across diverse disciplines, stands as an authoritative compendium delving into the profound implications of cutting-edge technologies in healthcare. From the tantalizing realm of artificial intelligence powering diagnostics and treatments to the tangible impact of wearable health devices and telemedicine on accessibility, each chapter delves into the nuanced interplay between technology and medical practice. This book spotlights the capabilities of these technologies, as well as dissecting the ethical, social, and regulatory tapestry they unravel. This book, thoughtfully tailored for a spectrum of stakeholders, epitomizes a synergy between knowledge dissemination and empowerment. From healthcare practitioners seeking to optimize medical practices to policymakers navigating the labyrinth of ethical considerations, from educators enriching health literacy to patients empowered to navigate their health journey, the book unearths its relevance across the healthcare spectrum.