A new analysis finds that when colorectal cancer patients seek out health information from the internet and news media, they are more likely to be aware of and receive the latest treatments for their disease.

Anyone who runs for Prime Minister or President should have an independent health examination to ensure their ability to govern, argues a doctor on bmj.com today.

Health Literacy Month, recognized in October, promotes the importance of ensuring access to understandable health information. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy - skills needed to manage their health.

The BMJ Group’s mission to provide access to evidence based medicine to doctors across the world comes closer to fulfilment as a result of a new licensing agreement in China.

Computer technology that provides parents with customized safety information can be an effective way to help their children avoid injury, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Government support for reforms deemed critical; health information technology, public quality reporting, pay for performance seen as effective strategies

Older adults who cannot read and understand basic health information appear to have increased mortality rates over a five-year period than those with adequate health literacy, according to a report in the July 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Not being able to read doesn't just make it harder to navigate each day. Low literacy impairs people's ability to obtain critical information about their health and can dramatically shorten their lives.