Including the Discipline Health Literacy in a Collective Health Postgraduate Program of a Public Institution: An Experience in Northeastern Brazil

Background and Objectives: Health literacy encompasses skills and competences that allow users to understand health care. The knowledge gap was identified in the Post-Graduate Health Programs. The aim of the current article was to describe the process focused on including the Health Literacy discipline in a Postgraduate Program in Collective Health of a Public Institution. Materials and Methods: Descriptive study, carried out from the identification of the existing gap in the disciplinary matrix of postgraduate courses, starting from the assessment of needs, establishment of goals and objectives, as well as educational strategies to achieve them, from the implementation of a health literacy discipline with 30 hours, divided into eight meetings, later formally evaluated by the students. Results: The course content allowed students to enter the epistemological field of health literacy, through reflections and discussions related to health literacy strategies in their professional practice, improving health communication and qualifying health decision-making by the user. Conclusion: The discipline based on health literacy is of paramount importance to the matrix, as it allows health professionals to identify new paths in their practices, as well as improving the health professional/patient relationship.