Functional health literacy is significantly associated with risk factors for stroke in a population sample

Improvement in stroke prevention requires effective health communication strategies to address knowledge gaps that stroke can be preventable and improve modifiable lifestyle factors (e.g. hypertension, smoking, obesity). Successful strategies will account for functional health literacy (FHL) skills of consumers (defined as abilities to read, calculate, and actively engage on oral and written information in healthcare settings), as less than half of adults have skills to meet the complex literacy demands of healthcare systems.