
356 | CHAPTER 20 Supporting Consumer Information and Education Needs
basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health deci-
sions’” (para. 2). For example, healthcare providers depend on a patient’s ability
to understand and follow directions associated with preparation for surgery or
taking medications. It is also assumed, sometimes erroneously, that people will
correctly interpret symptoms of a serious illness and act appropriately. The abil-
ity to locate and evaluate health information for credibility and quality, to analyze
the various risks and benefits of treatments, and to calculate dosages and interpret
test results ar ...