Using a self-assessment tool to strengthen organisational health literacy in primary care in Sweden
Abstract
Issue/problem: Limited health literacy contributes to poorer health outcomes and health inequalities. Addressing health literacy requires action not only at the individual level but also at the organisational level. Organisational health literacy concerns how healthcare services support people in accessing, understanding and using health information and care. In primary health care, practical tools to support organisational health literacy are limited. To address this gap, the OHL PHC self‑assessment tool was developed within the WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M‑POHL).
Description of the problem: The project explored the feasibility and perceived usefulness of applying the Swedish version of the OHL PHC tool in primary care settings in Sweden. The project was conducted over six months in three primary care clinics. The tool was used as a basis for a structured organisational reflection process. Qualitative interviews were conducted with primary care staff shortly after using the tool and again six months later to capture their experiences over time.
Results: Preliminary results suggest that staff perceived the OHL PHC tool as relevant and meaningful for their daily work. Participants described the self‑assessment process as supporting reflection on communication, accessibility and organisational routines. They also described greater awareness of how primary care services can create barriers or support patients in navigating health information and care. Follow‑up interviews indicated challenges related to sustaining engagement and translating reflection into concrete organisational change over time.
Lessons: Findings suggest that the OHL PHC tool may support organisational awareness and structured reflection on health literacy in primary care. Moving from reflection to concrete action, however, requires prioritisation of improvement work and support from management.
Key messages: • Primary care staff perceived the OHL PHC tool as relevant and useful for reflecting on organisational health literacy and how services can better respond to patients’ health literacy needs.
• Organisational health literacy self assessment may support awareness and reflection in primary care, but competing priorities and limited organisational support may delay structured improvement work.
Related
- Digital health literacy in safety-net primary care: a needs assessment and call to action for health equity
- Beyond Structural Neglect: Using Evidence to Strengthen Primary Health Care Systems, Policies and Programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men
- The Assessment of Structural Validity and Internal Consistency of the Polish Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) in Primary Care Settings.
- Improving organisational health literacy in diabetes care – a multisite evaluation of OHL-Act
- Interventions to Enhance Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness in Institutional and Community‐Based Settings for Children: A Systematic Scoping Review
BibTeX
@article{wangdahl2026using,
title = {{Using a self-assessment tool to strengthen organisational health literacy in primary care in Sweden}},
author = {JM Wångdahl and J Agerholm and C Sylwander and L Karlsson and I Larsson and M Andersson},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1401},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1401},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Using a self-assessment tool to strengthen organisational health literacy in primary care in Sweden
AU - JM Wångdahl
AU - J Agerholm
AU - C Sylwander
AU - L Karlsson
AU - I Larsson
AU - M Andersson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1401
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1401
AB - Issue/problem: Limited health literacy contributes to poorer health outcomes and health inequalities. Addressing health literacy requires action not only at the individual level but also at the organisational level. Organisational health literacy concerns how healthcare services support people in accessing, understanding and using health information and care. In primary health care, practical tools to support organisational health literacy are limited. To address this gap, the OHL PHC self‑assessment tool was developed within the WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M‑POHL). Description of the problem: The project explored the feasibility and perceived usefulness of applying the Swedish version of the OHL PHC tool in primary care settings in Sweden. The project was conducted over six months in three primary care clinics. The tool was used as a basis for a structured organisational reflection process. Qualitative interviews were conducted with primary care staff shortly after using the tool and again six months later to capture their experiences over time. Results: Preliminary results suggest that staff perceived the OHL PHC tool as relevant and meaningful for their daily work. Participants described the self‑assessment process as supporting reflection on communication, accessibility and organisational routines. They also described greater awareness of how primary care services can create barriers or support patients in navigating health information and care. Follow‑up interviews indicated challenges related to sustaining engagement and translating reflection into concrete organisational change over time. Lessons: Findings suggest that the OHL PHC tool may support organisational awareness and structured reflection on health literacy in primary care. Moving from reflection to concrete action, however, requires prioritisation of improvement work and support from management. Key messages: • Primary care staff perceived the OHL PHC tool as relevant and useful for reflecting on organisational health literacy and how services can better respond to patients’ health literacy needs. • Organisational health literacy self assessment may support awareness and reflection in primary care, but competing priorities and limited organisational support may delay structured improvement work.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -