Main description:

This compact resource presents current data on health literacy as it affects child health outcomes, with a sharp focus on improving communication between healthcare providers and pediatric patients and their families. A frequently overlooked social determinant of health in children, health literacy is shown as a critical skill for patients and families and a key aspect of patient engagement. The authors' evidence-based survey pinpoints common problems in healthcare providers' verbal and written communication with pediatric patients, their parents, and/or caregivers. Readers will learn about practical health literacy strategies for addressing and preventing miscommunication at the individual and systems levels. These improvements are linked to immediate results (e.g., greater compliance, fewer medication errors) as well as improved long-term child health outcomes, including reduced health disparities and enhanced quality of life into adulthood.

This transformative guide:

Defines optimum health communication as necessary for working with all patients
Identifies common barriers to clear health communication
Traces the relationship between health literacy and child health outcomes, from the prenatal period and into young adulthood
Offers guidelines for creating effective patient education materials and a safe, health literacy oriented patient-centered environment
Integrates health literacy into health systems' quality improvement plans

Health Literacy and Child Health Outcomes informs students in MPH programs as well as public health scientists and scholars, and can also serve as an introductory text for students in public health ethics or a general applied ethics course. Public health professionals in diverse contexts such as local health departments and nonprofit organizations will appreciate its robust approach to ethical practice, professional development, and systems improvement. This will be a helpful guide for introducing health communication topics in medical education and allied health. Lastly, clinicians taking care of pediatric patients will find concise information and practical advice to apply in the clinical setting.

Contents:

I. Introduction to Health Literacy and Health Communication
Definition of Health Literacy
Health Literacy as an Element of Health Communication

Health literacy

English language proficiency and cultural competency

Health Literacy Skills Level and Health-Related Tasks
Low Health Literacy Skills and Patients' Experiences of Health Care
Health Literacy in Numbers:

How big of a problem?

How to know who is at risk?

Health Literacy and Quality of Care

II. Health Literacy and Child Health Outcomes: From the Perinatal and Birth Period to Young Adulthood
Parental Health Literacy and Children From 0 to 3
Parental Health Literacy and Medication Errors Health Literacy and Growing Up Healthy
Health Literacy and Childhood Chronic Health Conditions

III. Health Literacy Universal Precautions: Strategies for Communication With All Patients
Strategies for Spoken Communication

Avoiding medical jargon

Checking for understanding: Teach Back and Show-Me techniques

Limiting amount of information and repeat

Encouraging patients to ask questions: Ask Me 3

Strategies for Using Written Information

Using pictures or models

Using patient information materials effectively

IV. Health Literacy and Effective Health Communication in Pediatric Practices and Health Systems
Creating Shame-Free Environments and Patient-Friendly Institutions

Will patients feel welcome and encouraged to ask questions?

The patient-centered approach to communication

Plain Language in Patient Information Materials: From Registration Forms, Consent Forms, and General Information, to Information Giving and Patient Education Resources
Reducing Medication Errors: Brown Bag Review and Medication Reconciliation

Ensuring patient understanding of medication instructions: dosing instruments, medication charts, and other tips

V. Health Literacy and Medical Education
Health Literacy as an Element of Interpersonal and Communication Skills Competency in Medical Education

Undergraduate medical education

Graduate medical education

Continuing medical education

Maintenance of board certification (MOC)

Resources for Medical Professionals: American Board of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academic Pediatric Association, American Medical Association, Healthy People 2020, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

VI. Health Literacy and Child Health, From Research to Policy Implications
Research Opportunities and Evidence-Based Medicine
Quality Improvement in Pediatric Practice: Measuring Performance and Resulting Patient Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, Health Care Resources Utilization, and Medication Error Reduction
Health Literacy and the Pediatric Patient-Centered Medical Home
Health Literacy and Child Health Policy Implications