Final answer:
Health literacy has a definitive impact on the quality of health care, as it empowers individuals to make informed health decisions leading to better outcomes and contributes to health equity. Enhanced health literacy is particularly crucial in reducing disparities within diverse populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that health literacy affects the quality of health care is true. Health literacy 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. Improved health literacy can lead to better health outcomes by empowering individuals to make informed choices related to their health, such as engaging in healthier behaviors, utilizing preventative services, and navigating healthcare systems more effectively.
To address disparities and ensure equitable health outcomes, it is vital to enhance health literacy, especially in diverse populations such as African Americans. This can be achieved through culturally tailored educational programs and research initiatives that are reflective of the community's values and experiences. By increasing diversity in research participation and implementing culturally specific data collection tools, we can create a more inclusive health system that better serves all segments of society. Hence, health literacy acts as a bridge between patients and the quality health care they receive, influencing not just personal health, but also broader health equity.