Which is a consequence of limited health literacy?

• A. Increased ED visits.
• B. Decreased preventive care.
• C. Lower hospital admissions.
• D. Increased medication errors.

Answer: (D)

Limited health literacy means patients struggle to understand health information, instructions, and labels. Medication instructions require precise interpretation of dosing, timing, and warnings, so when someone misreads a prescription label or misunderstanding dosing schedules, they may take the wrong amount, at the wrong time, or miss doses. These mistakes are medication errors and can lead to ineffective treatment, adverse effects, or events that require additional care. While limited health literacy is also linked to higher emergency department use and less preventive care, the most direct and common consequence tied to misinterpreting medicine instructions is an increase in medication errors. Teaching back and using plain language can help reduce this risk.