Public understanding of growth charts: a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To examine current knowledge about the general public's comprehension of growth charts.


METHODS
A literature search was carried out to identify and analyze the findings of studies that have examined the extent to which non-healthcare professionals comprehend the information presented by growth charts.


RESULTS
Few studies have examined how well parents understand growth charts. These studies have mostly been conducted in developing countries and have yielded inconclusive results.


CONCLUSIONS
Growth charts can be useful for such purposes as growth monitoring and public health education, but their effectiveness as an educational tool depends on whether parents and caregivers comprehend the information they offer. The literature has not clearly proven that growth charts are easily understood by the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies of the public's understanding of growth charts are needed to help guide health care providers in their use of growth charts as educational tools.
Ben-Joseph
Elana Pearl
EP
Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, United States. elanapea@comcast.net
Dowshen
Steven A
SA
Izenberg
Neil
N
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001296:Audiovisual Aids / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D032882:Comprehension; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D006128:Growth; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design