Typically defined as ‘the degree to which individuals
have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand
basic health information and services
needed to make appropriate health decisions’ [1],
health literacy has become an important public
health issue. While much research has examined
the assessment of literacy in health settings and
the association of literacy levels with health outcomes
for adults [2], little is known about literacy
in health settings and health literacy for adolescents.
Early intervention and prevention are crucial
from a public health perspective [3]. With an emphasis
on prevention, it is assumed that addressing
health literacy at an early age can help develop
one’s ability to understand health information
and improve interactions with the health care system
that will lead to positive health outcomes later
in life. This paper provides justification, offers a
framework and concludes with suggestions for
future research in the area of adolescent health
literacy.