In her presentation at the Patient Communication and Patient Education Conference, Lívia Lengyel, a colleague at MEMT and a PhD candidate at Semmelweis University, highlighted the importance of health literacy in patient care and communication.
The quality of patient care is determined not only by professional expertise and technological resources, but also by how well patients understand health-related information. The presentation pointed out that limited health literacy is a significant challenge worldwide, including in Hungary.
Patients often find medical terminology difficult to understand, which can lead to misunderstandings, failure to follow treatment recommendations and, ultimately, poorer health outcomes. According to Hungarian data, only one in ten people is able to interpret healthcare information and instructions adequately.
Using practical examples, the presentation explored how patient communication can be made more effective and how patients’ understanding and engagement can be improved throughout the care process.
The abstract of the presentation, entitled Signs of Limited Health Literacy in Everyday Practice, is available in the programme and abstract booklet of the Patient Communication and Patient Education Conference held on 19 February 2026.
https://egeszseg-es-uzlet.hu/pacienskommunikacio-konferencia/