As per recent data, it is estimated that 14% of adults in the US are considered to have low literacy skills, which is critical for health professionals to consider when communicating with patients.
The approximate percentage of adults in the US who are classified as illiterate or low literate is 14%. This figure is derived from data indicating that 86% of adults in the United States possess at least basic prose literacy skills, while 14% fall short of this standard, according to ProLiteracy. This information is critical for health professionals, such as ambulatory care nurses, as it highlights the importance of tailoring health communications to match the literacy levels of patients to improve health literacy and outcomes. Understanding and effectively addressing the literacy needs of patients can lead to better health education and can potentially improve health care delivery and effectiveness.
So, while the provided options do not accurately reflect the most current statistics, it is essential to recognize that a significant minority of adults in the US may face challenges in understanding health-related information due to low literacy skills. This knowledge should guide health professionals in creating and implementing appropriate educational strategies.