Exploring Health Literacy and its Relationship to Health and Wellness Coaching

Abstract

Health outcomes are influenced by the ability of individuals to take an active role in the decisions and actions affecting their health and well-being. This involves a process of accessing, understanding, appraising, and using health-related information and resources to take actions that lead to positive health outcomes and an improved quality of life. Health literacy plays an integral role in the health and wellness outcomes achieved by both individuals and the healthcare delivery system as a whole, with low health literacy linked to deleterious impacts on health status and quality of life. Identifying approaches that increase health literacy is a critical component in elevating the health status of individuals and populations. This discussion investigates the relationship between health and wellness coaching (HWC) and health literacy, exploring the potential HWC has for improving health literacy. Key constructs of HWC and health literacy are shared, along with observations about their interconnectivity and the implications this has for advancing health literacy and mobilizing positive change in healthcare.

Keywords

• health literacy
• health coaching
• health and wellness coaching
• coaching competencies
• self-efficacy
• empowerment
• activation
• engagement
• communication
• sense of coherence
• salutogenesis
• integrated health literacy model
• extended health empowerment model