# data[].attributes.headline
Health information including links to the 2023 second edition of the Health Literacy Toolkit 

# data[].attributes.subject
Health information including links to the 2023 second edition of the Health Literacy Toolkit 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This 2023 second edition of the Health Literacy Toolkit opens with a general introduction to health literacy and digital health literacy. The main focus of the document is a review of tools and techniques that are freely available.

The full toolkit can be downloaded as a PDF or the full toolkit can be downloaded as a Word document.

The principal tools and techniques are listed below, with links where these are specific tools on external websites, rather than wider techniques. Different aspects of health literacy, such as 'Spoken Communication', are included in the full toolkit as context for using the tools
Guidance and Tools 1. Communicating with people
Tool 1: Levels of literacy and numeracy
2. Spoken communication
Tool 2: Teach-Back

Tool 3: Chunk and Check

Tool 4: Health Literacy eLearning
3. Written Information
Tool 5: How to write in plain English

Tool 6: A-Z of alternative words from the Plain English Campaign

Tool 7: Plain English lexicon from the Plain Language Commission

Tool 8: Care and Support Jargon Buster from Think Local Act Personal

Tool 9: A guide to producing written information in easy read from North Yorkshire County Council
4. Readability
Tool 10: Hemingway

Tool 11: Flesch-Kincaid readability test

Tool 12: Drivel Defence

Tool 13: NHS Medical Document Readability Tool
5. Involving service users
Levels of user involvement

Tool 14: Co-production
6. Design
Information in print

Additional tips for digital information

Pictures, graphs and other images
Acknowledgements
This is the second edition of a toolkit that was originally developed by the Community Health and Learning Foundation, Public Health England, Health Education England and NHS England. This revised version was developed in 2023 by a Task and Finish group of health knowledge and library specialists, working with Liz Woolf as an external writer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This page is for patients, their families and carers as well as the health and care staff supporting them. We [...]

# data[].attributes.body
Elearning programmes on a range of topics covering children's health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Menu Access our elearning programmes on the elfh Hub HubRegister / Log in >

# data[].attributes.body
The new Learning Resource Centre

# data[].attributes.body
Waterside garden

# data[].attributes.body
Arts Club photo exhibition

# data[].attributes.body
Comfortable seating and book stock

# data[].attributes.headline
Guide to using the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub

# data[].attributes.subject
Guide to using the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub

# data[].attributes.body
How to access the Hub, refine your search, expand your search and Ask a Librarian

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
NHS England Workforce, Training and Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Navigating the new NHS Knowledge and Library Services Hub

# data[].attributes.headline
Access the Library and Knowledge Hub and library website

# data[].attributes.subject
Access the Library and Knowledge Hub and library website

# data[].attributes.body
Begin your search, sign in with your OpenAthens account and access e-resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Library services | NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This site uses cookies to enhance your experience. By scrolling or continuing to use this site without changing your browser settings, you are consenting to our Cookie and Privacy Policy.

# data[].attributes.headline
Map of Frimley Park marked with locations of gardens

# data[].attributes.subject
Map of Frimley Park marked with locations of gardens

# data[].attributes.headline
Map of Wexham Park marked with locations of gardens

# data[].attributes.subject
Map of Wexham Park marked with locations of gardens

# data[].attributes.headline
Photo of Heatherwood Hospital with locations of gardens

# data[].attributes.subject
Photo of Heatherwood Hospital with locations of gardens

# data[].attributes.headline
Health Literacy programme from elearning for healthcare

# data[].attributes.subject
Health Literacy programme from elearning for healthcare

# data[].attributes.body
Learning objectives:

List the benefits of health literacy to individuals and services

List health literacy tools and techniques

Explain how to use health literacy tools and techniques

Describe the impact of health literacy on people’s health choices

Create a personal action plan to be health literacy friendly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This programme is in partnership with...

About the Health Literacy programme

Health literacy is about people having enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information, to be active partners in their care, and to navigate health and social care systems. Therefore, to access, assess and apply health information, people need to be health literate. The health literacy levels in England are very low: 43% of 16 to 65-year-olds struggle with text-based health information; and 61% of 16 to 65-year-olds cannot understand health information that includes both text and numbers (Rowlands et al., 2015. View article).

People working in health and social care need to be aware of health literacy and of the techniques that can help to increase understanding.

Promoting health literacy is everyone's responsibility. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and Health Education England (HEE) have collaborated to develop a new elearning module to help you understand the role health literacy plays in making sure everyone has enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information, to be active partners in their care, and to navigate health and social care systems.

The elearning session takes about 30 minutes to complete. At the end of the session, you will know why health literacy is important and how to use some simple techniques including TeachBack, chunk and check, using pictures and simple language to improve how you communicate and check understanding with others. After each section you can complete an action plan of how you intend to use the techniques in your practice. You can use this plan as evidence of your learning in your appraisal or professional portfolio.
Learning objectives:

List the benefits of health literacy to individuals and services

List health literacy tools and techniques

Explain how to use health literacy tools and techniques

Describe the impact of health literacy on people's health choices

Create a personal action plan to be health literacy friendly

More information

This elearning resource is pitched educationally as an introduction to health literacy, why it is important and the core techniques that can be used to improve health literacy. It has been developed in partnership by HEE and NES to raise the awareness of health literacy and its impact on health and social care staff. It supports a more blended approach to learning and spreading awareness of health literacy, building on the NES resource in The Health Literacy Place ( http://www.healthliteracyplace.org.uk/) and HEE's health literacy toolkit ( https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/population-health/training-educational-resources).

How to access

In order to access the Health Literacy programme, you will need an e-LfH account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below. Please note that you do not need to have an NHS email account to register.
Register >
To view the Health Literacy programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with e-LfH, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
View >
Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ' OpenAthens ' portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Health Literacyprogramme, please contact elfh directly.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.

elfh is a NHS England programme in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies

© elearning for healthcare 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Health Literacy - elearning for healthcare

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This programme is in partnership with... Health literacy is about people having enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information, to be active partners in their care, and to navigate health and social care systems. Therefore, to access, assess and apply health information, people need to be health literate.

# data[].attributes.body
Outdoor spaces for your mind and body to rest, recharge and refocus