False
The statement is false—the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) is not the source of the "12%" health literacy statistic, and the figure itself refers to proficient health literacy, not basic health literacy.
The Actual Source and Statistic
The 12% figure comes from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (2003), not the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2. This assessment found that only 12% of U.S. adults have proficient health literacy—meaning nearly 9 out of 10 adults may lack the skills needed to optimally manage their health and prevent disease 1.
What This Actually Means
The statistic is often misunderstood in clinical practice:
- 36% of U.S. adults have basic or below basic health literacy levels according to the Department of National Assessment's 2003 report 3
- This translates to approximately 89 million people (one-third of the adult population) who lack adequate health literacy to plan and follow through on recommended diagnostic testing, medical treatments, and preventive health 3
- The 12% figure represents those with proficient (highest level) health literacy, not those with adequate literacy 1
Clinical Implications for Mortality and Morbidity
Low health literacy directly impacts patient outcomes:
- Increased hospitalizations and emergency department visits 3, 4
- Higher mortality rates, particularly among elderly persons 4
- Poorer overall health status and decreased adherence to medical recommendations 3
- Economic burden of up to $238 billion annually 3
Critical Practice Point
Because patients with low health literacy often hide their inability to read or understand information, healthcare professionals should practice universal precautions and approach all patients as though they read at the sixth grade level 3. This is particularly important for elderly adults, who show deterioration in health literacy scores between ages 65 and 85 regardless of educational background 3.