Functional health literacy (FHL) is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. This theme concerns researchers/health professionals/public policy makers. Its interdisciplinary, relational and interactional nature indicates that FHL is influenced by health/educational systems, by the media, the family, and by work, community and policy-making spaces. FHL concepts are analyzed in light of the interaction user-professional-health care system, guided by the following questions: What is FHL? To what extent does FHL interfere in the communication among users, professionals and the health care system? What are its consequences to public health? Measures to increase FHL should improve individual skills and humanized health services, enhancing their written and oral communications, and meeting users' needs/abilities.
Health education; Functional health literacy; Health care systems; Communication