Respondents reported difficulty in making healthcare decisions and judging health information
While Canadians score well in terms of health literacy, they tend to struggle more to navigate the healthcare system.
Consumer Health Products Canada (CHP Canada) polled more than 2,000 Canadians in early July. From the survey, the group found a positive association between health literacy and good health. It also found that Canadians compare favourably with Europeans in terms of health knowledge and disease prevention.
“The strong association between high health literacy and good health shows how important this issue is to Canadians,” said CHP Canada President Karen Proud.
Respondents were grouped into four segments — excellent, sufficient, problematic, or inadequate — based on their health literacy. Overall, 73% of Canadians were rated “excellent” or “sufficient” in knowledge, better than their Dutch (61%), Irish (60%), Polish (56%), and German (54%) counterparts. They also seek health advice from specialists, with 89% using their doctor and 67% asking pharmacists.
However, the survey also found Canadians struggling in other healthcare aspects. Almost one-fourth of respondents (23%) said they find it “fairly difficult” or “very difficult” to find out where to get professional help when they’re ill — something that relatively fewer Dutch (5%), Irish (9%), German (13%), and Polish (14%) individuals found problematic.
The survey also found 54% of Canadians had similar difficulty determining when they should seek a second opinion from another doctor. This was also less of a problem for Dutch (46%), Germans (45%), Irish (38%), and Polish (25%) people.
Canadians also find it challenging to judge healthcare information from sources other than doctors or pharmacists. Among those polled, more than half (53%) said they have trouble judging the reliability of information on health risk in the media. Around a third (36%) had trouble evaluating different treatment options; for roughly the same proportion of respondents (34%), determining which health screenings they needed is a challenge.
According to CHP Canada, health literacy is important for the practice of self-care, which involves adopting healthy habits such as exercising, getting enough sleep, having a healthy diet, and taking necessary nutritional supplements. If 1/7 of Canadians practiced more self-care, it would allow 500,000 Canadians who currently don’t have access to a family doctor could get one, according to a previous survey by the group.
“[W]e are encouraging Canadians to continue to practice responsible self-care and it begins with health literacy, the foundation of the seven pillars of self-care,” Proud said.
Related stories:
Canada ranks third to last in global survey of healthcare systems
Patients lost in Canadian healthcare maze turn to private consultants
Consumer Health Products Canada (CHP Canada) polled more than 2,000 Canadians in early July. From the survey, the group found a positive association between health literacy and good health. It also found that Canadians compare favourably with Europeans in terms of health knowledge and disease prevention.
“The strong association between high health literacy and good health shows how important this issue is to Canadians,” said CHP Canada President Karen Proud.
Respondents were grouped into four segments — excellent, sufficient, problematic, or inadequate — based on their health literacy. Overall, 73% of Canadians were rated “excellent” or “sufficient” in knowledge, better than their Dutch (61%), Irish (60%), Polish (56%), and German (54%) counterparts. They also seek health advice from specialists, with 89% using their doctor and 67% asking pharmacists.
However, the survey also found Canadians struggling in other healthcare aspects. Almost one-fourth of respondents (23%) said they find it “fairly difficult” or “very difficult” to find out where to get professional help when they’re ill — something that relatively fewer Dutch (5%), Irish (9%), German (13%), and Polish (14%) individuals found problematic.
The survey also found 54% of Canadians had similar difficulty determining when they should seek a second opinion from another doctor. This was also less of a problem for Dutch (46%), Germans (45%), Irish (38%), and Polish (25%) people.
Canadians also find it challenging to judge healthcare information from sources other than doctors or pharmacists. Among those polled, more than half (53%) said they have trouble judging the reliability of information on health risk in the media. Around a third (36%) had trouble evaluating different treatment options; for roughly the same proportion of respondents (34%), determining which health screenings they needed is a challenge.
According to CHP Canada, health literacy is important for the practice of self-care, which involves adopting healthy habits such as exercising, getting enough sleep, having a healthy diet, and taking necessary nutritional supplements. If 1/7 of Canadians practiced more self-care, it would allow 500,000 Canadians who currently don’t have access to a family doctor could get one, according to a previous survey by the group.
“[W]e are encouraging Canadians to continue to practice responsible self-care and it begins with health literacy, the foundation of the seven pillars of self-care,” Proud said.
Related stories:
Canada ranks third to last in global survey of healthcare systems
Patients lost in Canadian healthcare maze turn to private consultants
