title: Health literacy: a pediatric nursing concern.
abstract: Health care stakeholders and experts have identified health literacy as a major public health issue. Inadequate health literacy has been associated with a myriad of untoward health outcomes, including higher rates of hospitalization and emergency room utilization, prolonged recovery periods from illnesses, and illness complications. Experts attribute the spiraling costs of health care to low health literacy as a causative factor. To date, health literacy initiatives have been directed toward addressing the concerns of the adult population. An introduction to the issue of health literacy and its relevance to the care of children, youth, and families is provided. Implications for practice, policy, and research are addressed.
authors.affiliation: USC-University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cecily L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Betz
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruccione
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meeske
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D003144:Communication Barriers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004522:Educational Status; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States