Health literacy enables patients to

• A. Improve their physical fitness.
• B. Obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services.
• C. Prescribe medications.
• D. Perform medical procedures.

Answer: (B)

Health literacy is the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. When a patient can read and interpret instructions, understand medication labels, follow treatment plans, recognize when to seek care, and know how to navigate appointments and insurance or consent forms, they can engage effectively with healthcare providers and manage their care safely. This directly supports safer care, better adherence, and clearer communication, all of which are essential for managing health, infection prevention, and post-visit steps.

The other options describe activities outside what health literacy enables. Improving physical fitness comes from lifestyle choices and exercise knowledge, not the core capacity to obtain and understand health information. Prescribing medications and performing medical procedures are duties of trained health professionals, not patients, so health literacy doesn’t confer those abilities.