Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department
BACKGROUND: Health literacy is an important predictor of healthcare outcomes, but research on this topic has largely been absent from the emergency medicine literature.OBJECTIVE: We measured the prevalence of health literacy in parents or guardians of pediatric patients seen in the emergency departm...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2008-08-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1dz4g1b3 |
| _version_ | 1811269355086807040 |
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| author | Tran, T. Paul Robinson, Laura M Keebler, John R Walker, Richard A Wadman, Michael C |
| author_facet | Tran, T. Paul Robinson, Laura M Keebler, John R Walker, Richard A Wadman, Michael C |
| author_sort | Tran, T. Paul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: Health literacy is an important predictor of healthcare outcomes, but research on this topic has largely been absent from the emergency medicine literature.OBJECTIVE: We measured the prevalence of health literacy in parents or guardians of pediatric patients seen in the emergency department (ED).METHODS: This was an observational study conducted in a Midwestern urban, university-based, tertiary, Level 1 trauma center ED with 33,000 visits/year. Using convenience sampling during a three-month period, English-speaking parents or guardians of pediatric patients (< 19 yrs.) were asked to complete the short version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (s-TOFHLA). Parents/guardians were excluded if they had uncorrected visual impairment, required an interpreter, had altered mental status, or if the patients they accompanied were the subjects of a medical or trauma activation.RESULTS: Of the 188 parents or guardians approached, six did not consent or withdrew, one was excluded, leaving 181 (96.3%) in the study. Of these, 19 (10.5%) had either "marginal" or "inadequate" health literacy, while 162 (89.5%, 95% CI: 84.1%, 93.6%) had "adequate" health literacy.CONCLUSION: A large majority (89.5%) of English-speaking parents or guardians of pediatric patients evaluated in the ED have adequate health literacy. This data may prompt ED professionals to adjust their communication styles in the evaluation of children. Future multi-center studies are needed to confirm the findings in this pilot study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:39:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5409a903e8f424180af04b6c2721537 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:39:28Z |
| publishDate | 2008-08-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5409a903e8f424180af04b6c27215372022-12-22T03:15:48ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182008-08-0193130134Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency DepartmentTran, T. PaulRobinson, Laura MKeebler, John RWalker, Richard AWadman, Michael CBACKGROUND: Health literacy is an important predictor of healthcare outcomes, but research on this topic has largely been absent from the emergency medicine literature.OBJECTIVE: We measured the prevalence of health literacy in parents or guardians of pediatric patients seen in the emergency department (ED).METHODS: This was an observational study conducted in a Midwestern urban, university-based, tertiary, Level 1 trauma center ED with 33,000 visits/year. Using convenience sampling during a three-month period, English-speaking parents or guardians of pediatric patients (< 19 yrs.) were asked to complete the short version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (s-TOFHLA). Parents/guardians were excluded if they had uncorrected visual impairment, required an interpreter, had altered mental status, or if the patients they accompanied were the subjects of a medical or trauma activation.RESULTS: Of the 188 parents or guardians approached, six did not consent or withdrew, one was excluded, leaving 181 (96.3%) in the study. Of these, 19 (10.5%) had either "marginal" or "inadequate" health literacy, while 162 (89.5%, 95% CI: 84.1%, 93.6%) had "adequate" health literacy.CONCLUSION: A large majority (89.5%) of English-speaking parents or guardians of pediatric patients evaluated in the ED have adequate health literacy. This data may prompt ED professionals to adjust their communication styles in the evaluation of children. Future multi-center studies are needed to confirm the findings in this pilot study.http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1dz4g1b3Health LiteracyPediatricsEmergency MedicineEmergency Department |
| spellingShingle | Tran, T. Paul Robinson, Laura M Keebler, John R Walker, Richard A Wadman, Michael C Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department Western Journal of Emergency Medicine Health Literacy Pediatrics Emergency Medicine Emergency Department |
| title | Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department |
| title_full | Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department |
| title_fullStr | Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department |
| title_short | Health Literacy Among Parents of Pediatric Patients Seen in the Emergency Department |
| title_sort | health literacy among parents of pediatric patients seen in the emergency department |
| topic | Health Literacy Pediatrics Emergency Medicine Emergency Department |
| url | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1dz4g1b3 |
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