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American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Health Literacy: Implications for Child Health

Andrea K. Morrison, Alexander Glick and H. Shonna Yin
Pediatrics in Review June 2019, 40 (6) 263-277; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2018-0027
Andrea K. Morrison
*Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
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Alexander Glick
†Department of Pediatrics and
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H. Shonna Yin
†Department of Pediatrics and
‡Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
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  1. Andrea K. Morrison, MD, MS*
  2. Alexander Glick, MD, MS†
  3. H. Shonna Yin, MD, MS†,‡
  1. *Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
  2. †Department of Pediatrics and
  3. ‡Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
  • AUTHOR DISCLOSURE

    Drs Morrison, Glick, and Yin have disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this article. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.

Abstract

Health literacy is an important issue to consider in the provision of health-care to children. Similar to the adult population, most parents face health literacy challenges. Of particular concern, 1 in 4 parents have low health literacy, greatly affecting their ability to use health information to make health decisions for their child. High expectations are placed on parents and children to achieve effective disease management and positive health outcomes in the context of complex health-care systems and disease treatment regimens. Low health literacy affects parent acquisition of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as child health outcomes across the domains of disease prevention, acute illness care, and chronic illness care. The effect of low health literacy is wide ranging, including 1) poor nutrition knowledge and behaviors, 2) higher obesity rates, 3) more medication errors, 4) more emergency department use, and 5) poor asthma knowledge, behaviors, and outcomes. Health-care providers can mitigate the effects of health literacy by seeking to align health-care demands with the health literacy skills of families. Effective health literacy–informed interventions provide insights into methods that can be used by providers and health systems to improve health outcomes. Health literacy–informed communication strategies should be used with all families in a “universal precautions approach” because all parents likely benefit from clear communication. As scientific advances are made in disease prevention and management, unless families understand how to follow provider recommendations, the benefit of these advances will not be realized and disparities in outcomes will be exacerbated.

  • © American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019. All rights reserved.

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Pediatrics in Review: 40 (6)
Pediatrics in Review
Vol. 40, Issue 6
1 Jun 2019
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Health Literacy: Implications for Child Health
Andrea K. Morrison, Alexander Glick, H. Shonna Yin
Pediatrics in Review Jun 2019, 40 (6) 263-277; DOI: 10.1542/pir.2018-0027

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Health Literacy: Implications for Child Health
Andrea K. Morrison, Alexander Glick, H. Shonna Yin
Pediatrics in Review Jun 2019, 40 (6) 263-277; DOI: 10.1542/pir.2018-0027
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