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Paakkari and Okan (2020) outlined that health literacy concerning COVID 19, also known as the Coronavirus, is an underestimated public health challenge. Zarocostas (2020) referred to the COVID 19 not as a pandemic, but an infodemic because of the need for patients to be more health literate at a time when they are being bombarded by inaccurate or misleading information from social media. COVID 19 has created two significant public health paradoxes (Paakkari & Okan, 2020). One has to do with the importance of health literacy as a critical aspect of risk management in contagious diseases (Paakkari & Okan, 2020). The second has to do with the need for accurate information for everyone regarding pandemic planning and risk (Paakkari & Okan, 2020). High levels of health literacy and compliance depend on reliable and readily available information on the nature of threats, disease transmission, risk safety protocols, and protective measures (Paakkari and Okan, 2020; Zarocostas, 2020). With COVID 19, a significant number of people lack accurate information on the symptoms, proper risk management strategies, and believe in fictitious conspiracy theories concerning the existence, emergence, and risks of the disease (Frieden, 2020). According to Spring (2020), since the outbreak of COVIS 19, social media and the Internet have burst with a significant amount of false news and information about the disease, which has hampered health literacy. Incorrect Social media stories, citizens, and politicians have distributed conflicting messages about the symptoms of COVID‐19, how it is transmitted, and the effectiveness of gloves and face masks (Spring, 2020; Frieden, 2020).
Health Literacy
Health literacy is an individual's capacity to obtain, interpret, and understand the necessary health information and services to improve their health (Andrews, 2014). The supposition is that for patients to accomplish health literacy duties they must be acquainted with health-related terms, comprehend discharge instructions, understand medication instructions, and have some actionable knowledge of how a health care system works so they can navigate it to access the care they need (Grace, 2016; Smith, 2020; Andrews, 2014; Jean, 2017).
Health literacy is dependent on an individual's ability to process health information presented to them or discuss with them when they need to make health care decisions (Andrews, 2014). Health literacy also requires an individual to understand the health information presented in various formats, such as forms, questionnaires, videos, and brochures (Alberti, 2014). Patients who do not understand health information given to them or become confused about how to apply the knowledge to their lifestyle are less likely to comply with instructions or follow-up on health care recommendations by a health care provider (Drake, 2015)
A strong hope to change the conversation on leadership practices concerning health literacy can revolutionize healthcare services and open the door to repair the damage-causing inadequate patient care and healthcare disparities (Smith, 2020; Carlton, 2016). Evolving communication systems with equitable and efficient provisions improve patient care. Promotion of health and disease prevention is a foundation for all healthcare providers (Sarfo, 2018). Still, if patients do not understand what health care providers are telling them, then it cannot be expected that they change behaviors to promote health and prevent diseases (Sarfo, 2018).