This article presents Orem's self-care deficit nursing theory as the conceptual framework in the development, design, selection, and evaluation of appropriate written patient education materials for patients with low literacy skills. The model, which includes essential evaluation factors used in literacy research, offers nurses and other professionals a more comprehensive means to judge the suitability of health information and instructional materials. Nurses have a critical role in educating consumers and their families and for providing patients with useful information that will influence their decision-making and participation in care.