Primary Care Literacy Resources
Understand Your Care. Empower Your Health.
Health literacy is essential for navigating the primary care system with clarity and confidence. With the right tools and education, individuals can actively participate in their care, ask meaningful questions, and make informed decisions that support long-term wellness.
This page brings together trustworthy, easy-to-understand resources to support individuals, families, and communities in strengthening their understanding of primary care and improving health outcomes.
What Is Primary Care and Why It Matters
Primary care serves as the foundation of the healthcare system—providing continuous, comprehensive care through prevention, early detection, and coordinated management of chronic and acute conditions (American Academy of Family Physicians [AAFP], 2023). Knowing how to prepare for a doctor’s visit, communicate concerns clearly, and follow through on care recommendations is key to building stronger relationships with healthcare providers and achieving better health results (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], 2023).
Top Health Literacy Resources
1. Be More Engaged in Your Health – AHRQ Offers strategies for preparing for medical visits, organizing questions, and ensuring follow-up care is understood and completed.
2. Primary Care Overview – AAFP Breaks down what primary care is—and what it is not—so that patients know what to expect and how to use services effectively.
3. Wellness Toolkit – NIH A toolkit with evidence-informed practices for mental, physical, and emotional self-care.
4. Take Charge of Your Health – Health.gov Interactive tools to identify screenings and preventive services based on age, sex, and risk level.
Health Literacy Video Library
These curated videos explain how to prepare for primary care visits, understand treatment options, and participate in shared decision-making:
"Questions Are the Answer" by AHRQ Watch
"Shared Decision Making at Mayo Clinic" by Mayo Clinic Watch
"Navigating the Healthcare System" by Black Doctors Podcast Watch
"Preventive Medicine: Grand Rounds" by the CDC Watch
Tools to Prepare for a Primary Care Visit
Visit Preparation Checklist – Download PDF
Questions to Ask Your Doctor – Download PDF
These tools are designed to support meaningful communication and continuity of care.
Why Health Literacy Makes a Difference
Improved health literacy is associated with better chronic disease management, increased preventive care use, reduced hospitalizations, and greater patient satisfaction (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Patients who understand their health conditions and treatment options are more likely to follow through with care plans, detect errors, and advocate for themselves effectively (NIH, 2021). Creating equitable access to these tools plays a vital role in reducing disparities and promoting more informed healthcare choices.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2023). Questions are the answer: Be more engaged in your health care. https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/be-engaged/index.html
American Academy of Family Physicians. (2023). Primary care definition. https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/primary-care.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). What is health literacy? https://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/learn/index.html
Your Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits. (2017, June 22). National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). MyHealthfinder. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder