SCIENCE AND HEALTH LITERACY
Science literacy
Lit Up Programme´s working definition of Science Literacy, and why it´s important.
The concept of science literacy or scientific literacy entails content knowledge, understanding of scientific practices, and understanding of science as a social process. Science literacy or scientific literacy can be defined more formally as "an individual’s scientific knowledge and use of that knowledge to identify questions, to acquire new knowledge, to explain scientific phenomena, and to draw evidence-based conclusions about science-related issues, understanding of the characteristic features of science as a form of human knowledge and inquiry, awareness of how science and technology shape our material, intellectual, and cultural environments, and willingness to engage in science-related issues, and with the ideas of science, as a reflective citizen" [Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009].
Science literacy is important because science and technology increasingly penetrate all aspects of everyday life, and therefore low science literacy creates major citizenship problems. Besides preparing students for science and technology-based vocations, education aims to increase the civic science literacy of the citizens. Having human capital stock well versed in science and technology helps in making informed decision making, in understanding of various risk-reward situations, as well as in the development of research and development activities. Even the quality of health, nutrition and environmental policy decisions, both at a local as well as at a global level, is highly dependent on the level of interest, information and attitudes towards science and technology.
Health literacy
Lit Up Programme´s working definition of Health Literacy, and why it´s important.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health literacy as “knowledge, personal skills, and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions” (Source: Nutbeam D. WHO Health promotion glossary. Health Promot Int. 1998;13(4):349–64).
Having human capital stock well versed in health is important: health literacy skills are key to successfully find and access care, prevent disease, effectively manage health problems, communicate one´s needs in different health situations, understand available choices and make informed decisions. Numerous studies show that low health literacy is a risk factor for higher levels of hospitalizations, higher emergency care use and premature mortality, among other negative health outcomes, such as poorer self-care management, lower medication adherence, lower participation in screening programs or lower levels of preventive behaviours. Low health literacy is often linked to lower educational attainment, migration history and chronic illnesses, as well as long-term unemployment or low quality jobs. Furthermore, lack of health literacy can have consequences well beyond a patient’s personal health, such as on the public’s health as a whole: one of the lessons we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that health literacy skills have very high stakes. In addition, lack of health literacy can have a tremendous economic impact. Case in point: low health literacy is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system between 106 and 238 billion dollars annually.