Objective  To examine health literacy among contracted family doctors in Shanghai for providing evidence to the formulation of strategies and measures on health literacy promotion in the doctors.

  Methods  Using National Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), we conducted an online survey among all doctors engaged in contracted family doctor services during October – December 2020 in Shanghai city.

  Results   Of the 5 826 respondents (99.96% of the doctors surveyed) with valid responses, 96.74% were assessed as with basic overall health literacy according to their total scores of HLQ; the proportions of the respondents with the three health literacy domains were 96.74% for basic health knowledge and concept, 87.38% for healthy lifestyle and behavior, and 78.82% for basic skills; and the proportions of the respondents with the health literacy associated with public health problems were 94.82% for safety and first-aid, 93.82% for scientific health perspective, 91.01% for health information, 85.96% for basic medical skills, 81.14% for chronic disease prevention and treatment, and 72.91% for infectious disease prevention and treatment, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the health literacy level differed significantly by gender, age and education among the respondents.

  Conclusion  The health literacy level of the contracted family doctors in Shanghai is generally at a relatively high level, but some literacy domains need to be improved and health literacy related practice should be promoted among the doctors.