Health Information Literacy

People with low literacy skills may not always understand what health professionals tell them or read health information. These sites give information about research and resources on health information literacy.

The Centre for Literacy of Quebec
Health literacy is one of The Centre for Literacy of Quebec projects. A joint literacy initiative of the Centre and the Department of Nursing of the MUHC has been studying the combination of factors involved with literacy and health and trying to find how barriers to patient communication can be addressed. 

Health Literacy Studies of the Harvard School of Public Health
Health Literacy Studies of the Harvard School of Public health is engaged in a variety of research efforts focused on communication and literacy skills.

Medical Library Association - Health Information Literacy
The Medical Library Association Task Force on Health Information Literacy has developed a working definition of health information literacy and framed it within two larger, related concepts-health literacy and information literacy. It also provides links for various ressources for professionals and health consumers.

The National Literacy and Health Program
The Canadian Public Health Association's (CPHA) National Literacy and Health Program (NLHP) promotes awareness among health professionals of the links between literacy and health.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine - Health Literacy
This site provides information on the health literacy,  from definitions to research information and resources.


This page contains links to web sites which provide health information. Please note that these sites are not affiliated with The Montreal Children’s Hospital Family Resource Library.