Health literacy and patient autonomy
Authors:
O. Doskočil; J. Šimek
Authors‘ workplace:
Ředitelka: Mgr. Vlastimila Ptáčníková, Ph. D.
; Zdravotně sociální fakulta
; Ústav humanitních studií v pomáhajících profesích (UHP)
; Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2023; 103(1): 15-20
Category:
Of different specialties
Overview
The current topic of health literacy is usually presented separately from the issue of health care ethics. However, the contemporary emphasis on the importance of increasing the level of health literacy of the population in the provision of health care is based on the same assumptions as modern medical ethics emphasizing the competence of the autonomous patient to make responsible decisions in the care of his own health. Health literacy is a prerequisite for the realization of patient autonomy. As a result of the massive social changes that took place in the 20th century, the right to self-determination of the individual strengthened, even in the context of medicine. From a passive recipient, the patient became an active participant in health care. At the same time, medicine and the organization of the health system have become more complex, differentiated and specialized, so it is not easy to understand the information obtained. The ability to understand health information and use it to make appropriate health care decisions is one of the basic characteristics of health literacy. The concept of health literacy thus significantly expands and enriches the understanding of many concepts used in medical ethics since its inception. It allows a new insight into some aspects of Beauchamp-Childress principialism, which is now a traditional method of ethical reasoning in medicine. In addition to the concept of the patient’s competence, it is also necessary to take into account his capacity to make health decisions in health care.
Keywords:
health literacy – health care ethics – patient autonomy – competence and capacity
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Labels
General practitioner for children and adolescents General practitioner for adultsArticle was published in
General Practitioner
2023 Issue 1
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