Improving Health Literacy Can Improve Wellness and Productivity

In today’s digital-first world, people go online for answers about their health. They pore through volumes of information — and misinformation — looking for a diagnosis, next steps, or home remedies.

According to a 2024 survey report, 54% of Americans have used online health content to self-diagnose a condition. Of those, only 43% followed up on their symptoms with a health care provider.¹

Ensuring access to credible health information in the workplace can improve employee well-being, health care cost management, and informed care decisions. Employers can look to their health care payers and community partners for support.

What is health literacy?

The U.S. government’s Healthy People 2030² initiative has a two-pronged definition of health literacy:

• Personal health literacy defines an individual’s ability “to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health‑related decisions and actions.”
• Organizational health literacy describes how well companies and groups enable individuals to access, understand, and apply health content.
  

The government updated these definitions in 2020 to reflect the importance of both understanding and using health information. The new definitions also focus on well-informed decision-making and organizational responsibility.

The importance of health literacy 

A clinical study of health literacy, social determinants of health, and disease prevention/control correlated low literacy with advanced illness. This correlation was attributed to the fact that individuals with low health literacy tend to delay diagnosis and treatment. 

They also have trouble with managing chronic health conditions, taking their medication as prescribed, and seeking out preventive care.³ Low health literacy can lead to increased hospitalization as well. In the workplace, a lack of health literacy manifests as absenteeism, lower productivity, and higher health care spending.⁴

Public-private partnership for health literacy education

Highmark’s managed care organization (MCO) partnered with public libraries in Pennsylvania to host interactive workshops, including training on MedlinePlus.gov, a health care information website from National Library of Medicine (NLM). Health care consumers can use MedlinePlus to find easy-to-understand content on health, wellness, medical disorders, screening tests, medications, supplements, and genetics.

The public-private partnership targeted local populations facing both health and digital literacy gaps. These populations experienced an above-average number of health conditions, along with higher rates of emergency and hospital care.⁵ 

Before: family advice,food deserts, and ill health

Prior to the educational program, 30% of participants never researched symptoms online. Most (61%) said they almost always take health advice from family and friends.

The participants also lived in food deserts, with a lack of traditional grocery stores. Discount stores replete with ultra-processed foods linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease were the primary shopping outlets.

After: new skills for a healthier lifestyle

Educational programs provided 30 minutes of MedlinePlus training and a 30-minute healthy cooking demonstration. The cooking demonstration showed how to use low-cost, discount store food items to create
nutritious meals. 

Results from the health literacy initiative showed that: 

• 67% of participants had never heard of MedlinePlus before.
• 82% thought the training helped them find trustworthy health information.
• 77% said they would use MedlinePlus to research health conditions.
• 64% planned to use MedlinePlus ahead of medical appointments.
• 74% said they would recommend the website to others.
• 62% rated the educational program as “excellent.”

Health literacy and employee wellness

Employers can play a pivotal role in helping their employees become more informed health care consumers. Companies can provide access to trusted, understandable resources by integrating health literacy into wellness strategies and benefits communications.

Employees with a higher degree of health literacy are more apt to: 

• Avoid unnecessary treatments and minimize stress by understanding their symptoms.
  
• Prepare for medical appointments with accurate, relevant background information.
  
• Make informed decisions about lifestyle changes, medications, and preventive care.
  
• Support their dependents and others in their families who may rely on them for guidance.

Improving organizational health literacy 

Creating a culture of health literacy starts with clear communications, payer partnerships, and consistent reinforcement. Strategies for improvement include: 

• Ensuring access to trusted health information with digital health portals, employee newsletters, open enrollment webinars, and a robust intranet. 
  
• Providing training on how to use available health information. Companies can host webinars with their health care insurance representatives and/or include health literacy as part of onboarding.
  
• Identifying health literacy champions to serve as ambassadors among their peer groups at work. Empower staff to share their experiences finding and understanding credible health information.
• Partnering with payers, local health systems, or community groups to create wellness and learning events. Distribute take-home information about how to evaluate health care information and take appropriate next steps.

Any of these efforts will make credible health information easier to find, understand, and act upon. A more informed workforce means better health decisions and stronger overall well-being. Talk to your Highmark account manager to see how we can support your organizational health literacy needs.