title: Health Literacy in Adolescents and Young Adults: Perspectives from Australian Cancer Survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health literacy is a critical determinant of health and an emerging public health concern. Little is known about the health literacy of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) or about the ability of young patients to communicate health needs and critically evaluate information. We used qualitative methods to investigate the three aspects of health literacy (functional, communicative, and critical) in Australian AYA cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Australian AYA cancer survivors, aged 15-29 either at diagnosis or recruitment, participated in semistructured interviews. Participants were asked about sources of information and ability to understand information, communicate questions, and critically evaluate the validity, reliability, and relevancy of information to their situation. Self-reported adherence levels and advice for AYA-specific care was also obtained. Interviews were coded and analyzed for emergent themes using QSR NVivo 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all AYAs named their doctor as the primary source of information. Most AYAs reported no difficulties with understanding, communicating, or assessing relevancy of information. Conversely, few AYAs reported confidence in assessment of validity and reliability of information. The doctor-patient relationship appeared to be an influential factor in all aspects of health literacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AYAs frequently reported having a good understanding and communication around health information; however, few AYAs described engaging in critical evaluations of this information. The potential impact of the doctor-patient relationship across several domains of health literacy suggests that more focus could be placed on promoting health literacy at physician, community, and societal levels, in addition to promoting individual skills.
authors.affiliation: 1 Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital , Randwick, NSW, Australia .|2 Discipline of Pediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW, Australia .
authors.forename: Merry
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: 1 Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital , Randwick, NSW, Australia .|2 Discipline of Pediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW, Australia .|3 Sydney Youth Cancer Service, Prince of Wales/Sydney Children's Hospital , Randwick, NSW, Australia .
authors.forename: Ursula M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Sansom-Daly
authors.affiliation: 1 Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital , Randwick, NSW, Australia .|2 Discipline of Pediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW, Australia .
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.affiliation: 1 Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital , Randwick, NSW, Australia .|2 Discipline of Pediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW, Australia .
authors.forename: Brittany C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.affiliation: 1 Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital , Randwick, NSW, Australia .|2 Discipline of Pediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW, Australia .
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cohn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D000073116:Cancer Survivors; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: communication; decision-making; health literacy; healthcare engagement; psychosocial; social support