Final answer:
Patients with low health literacy tend to use more health care resources, are less likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer, and are less likely to be hospitalized.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients with low health literacy tend to use more health care resources, mainly due to their lack of understanding of medical information. They may make more frequent visits to healthcare providers, undergo unnecessary tests, and use emergency services for non-urgent issues. This may lead to increased healthcare costs.
On the other hand, patients with low health literacy are less likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer as they may have difficulty recognizing early symptoms or accessing necessary screenings. This can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Lower health literacy levels are also associated with being less likely to be hospitalized for preventive care or chronic disease management. Patients with low health literacy may not understand instructions for self-care or may not recognize the severity of their condition, leading to inadequate follow-up or preventative measures.
Learn more about Health Literacy