3 Tips to Increase Health Literacy Updates & StatementsHealth LiteracyPatient CentricityWellness

At Pfizer, when we talk about making breakthroughs that change patients lives, we aren't just talking about medicines and treatments. We're also working to help patients understand the care they receive through guides and resources. We believe it's crucial for you to have the information you need to make the health decisions that are right for you.

With each new life chapter we enter and each new diagnosis we receive, we're introduced to new medical terminology, new guidance, new questions. Pfizer knows that health information can be challenging to absorb and understand. Sometimes, after-visit notes can feel more confusing than clarifying.

That's why increasing your health literacy-- the ability to find, understand, and use resources that allow someone to make informed health decisions1 --is so important. Estimates indicate that improving health literacy could prevent approximately one million hospital visits and save more than $25 billion annually.2 When someone has a lower degree of health literacy, they're more likely to receive a delayed diagnosis, which leads to an advanced illness and a worse outcome.3

For Health Literacy Month in October, we offer three tips to empower you to receive the information you need to manage your health well.

1. Maintain relationships with trusted healthcare providers.

While health information is available from a wide variety of sources - websites, friends, television, social media - among the most valuable sources of information are healthcare professionals.4 Health recommendations differ for individuals, and your team of providers will offer the information best suited for your specific needs: your health conditions, lifestyle, and preferences. A key member of your care team is a primary care provider, who may be a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, who will help you navigate health conditions, get referrals to specialists, and pursue preventive care.5 It's important to find a primary care provider who is a good fit for you, who treats you respectfully, listens to you, and conveys information clearly.6

2. Ask questions.

People who have a higher degree of health literacy ask healthcare providers more questions. While some patients may feel embarrassed to ask questions during an appointment, it actually shows a higher degree of engagement with their healthcare. Asking follow-up questions to clarify treatment instructions or a diagnosis can empower patients to fully understand their condition and to better adhere to a care plan.7

3. Use the "teach back" method to ensure you understand.

Sometimes, patients hear so much information during an appointment that it can be hard to remember it all. Or a patient may believe they've understood everything correctly when they might have misheard a detail. To ensure that you understand your doctor's instructions, use the "teach back" method: Repeat the information you received back to your provider - using everyday words that make sense to you - as if you're teaching it back to them. Then, your doctor can clarify anything that may be incorrect, or they can verify that you understood everything fully.8

Learn about some of the ways that Pfizer helps build health literacy:

Introducing HEALTH ANSWERS BY PFIZER: A New Consumer Digital Product Providing Answers You Can Trust in the Moments That Matter Most

Patient-Friendly Health Literacy Resources for Cancer Patients and Caregivers

How to Raise a Health Literate Child

[1] What is Health Literacy? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 16, 2024. October 16, 2024. Accessed October 12, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/health-literacy/php/about/index.html

[2] Talking Points About Health Literacy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 16, 2024. Accessed October 12, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/health-literacy/php/about/tell-others.html

[3] Coughlin SS, Vernon M, Hatzigeorgiou C, George V. Health Literacy, Social Determinants of Health, and Disease Prevention and Control. J Environ Health Sci. 2020;6(1):3061.

[4] America's Health Literacy: Why We Need Accessible Health Information. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed October 12, 2025. https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/health-literacy/dhhs-2008-issue-brief.pdf

[5] Primary Care. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. August 14, 2023. Accessed October 12, 2025. https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/key-concepts/primary-care

[6] Choosing a Doctor: Quick Tips. My Healthfinder - U. S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Disease Control and Prevention. May 23, 2024. Accessed October 12, 2025. https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/regular-checkups/choosing-doctor-quick-tips

[7] Menendez ME, van Hoorn BT, Mackert M, Donovan EE, Chen NC, Ring D. Patients With Limited Health Literacy Ask Fewer Questions During Office Visits With Hand Surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2017;475(5):1291-1297. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-5140-5

[8] Teach-Back: A Simple Technique to Enhance Patients' Understanding. American Academy of Family Physicians. July/August 2018. Accessed October 12, 2025.