KHS 110: Health Science

Health Literacy is defined as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions." (Institute of Medicine. 2004. Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.)

Consumer Health Resources are pieces of health information created specifically for the general public (ex: patients and their families). These resources can be databases, websites, printed brochures, etc.

Resources from the National Library of Medicine

• MedlinePlus -  information on health conditions, wellness issues, and more in easy-to-read language.
• DailyMed - information about marketed drugs in the United States.
• Drug Information Portal - selected drug information from the National Library of Medicine and other key government agencies

Resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• NIH Health Information - links to health information from across the National Institutes of Health
• NIDA for Teens - scientific facts about drugs and addiction, drug use among teens, and how drugs affect the teen brain and body.
• Senior Health Information - information on health topics specifically for older adults, including Alzheimer's and dementia, health eating, and caregiving from the National Institute of Aging
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements - science-based answers to your questions about dietary supplements
• We Can! - a national program designed to provide parents, caregivers, and communities a way to help children stay at a healthy weight.
• NIDDK Health Information - information for improving public health on topics including diabetes, kidney disease, and digestive diseases.
• NCCIH Health Information - information on complementary health approaches and practices including acupuncture, herbs, alternative health care, and natural medicine.

Other Government Organizations

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minneapolis Health Department

Private Foundations (these are just a few examples)

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) - health resources for people with type 1 diabetes and their families
• Sickle Cell Disease Foundation - has health information on sickle cell disease
• American Heart Association - information on healthy living and heart attack and stroke symptoms