Final answer:
To promote health literacy, focus on enhancing health education, supporting family and social networks, improving access to care, and using culturally relevant research methods. Emphasizing civility, cultural competence, and financial literacy is essential in these efforts, especially for minority populations like African Americans to address health inequities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Four change areas that can be leveraged to promote health literacy include health education, cultivation of family and social support, ensuring access to health care, and the integration of culturally specific research and data collection tools. These efforts are interconnected with the aim of enabling individuals and communities to make informed health decisions. In order to promote health literacy specifically among African Americans and reduce health inequities, it's important to create educational materials and interventions that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. This can help ensure that health messages and programs are accessible and resonate with the diverse needs of the community.
Furthermore, understanding civility and cultural competence plays a crucial role in delivering effective health communication, which is foundational for promoting health literacy. By adopting a civil approach that respects cultural differences, healthcare providers can create an environment where all individuals feel valued and understood. Additionally, incorporating financial literacy into health education can empower individuals to manage health-related expenses more effectively, which is a critical component of accessing and utilizing health care services.