Interventions can combat low health literacy in surgical patients

Over one-third of surgical patients experience low health literacy, notably affecting older, rural, and Black populations. This condition leads to poor compliance with medical instructions, extended hospital stays, increased readmission rates, and higher healthcare costs. However, health literacy is modifiable, prompting opportunities for impactful interventions at patient, provider, and system levels. Researchers advocate for enhanced communication and visual aids, alongside improving hospital organizational health literacy to mitigate disparities and optimize patient outcomes.