Are doctors to blame for low health literacy?

Research published by the Mayo Clinic found that 86 percent of patients said they knew they had been given a new drug, but only 64 percent could state its name or purpose. Only 11 percent reported that they had been told of potential adverse effects. The study also found that there was no difference between patients with more formal education and those with less schooling. Researchers say the findings suggest that poor communication by physicians might be to blame, and not low levels of health literacy.