Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Health Literacy and Health Communication

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Health Literacy and Child Health Outcomes

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Public Health ((BRIEFSCHILD))

Abstract

Communication is defined as “the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feeling, etc., to someone else.”1 In medicine, good communication skills can result in greater patient satisfaction and compliance with medical treatments, improved health outcomes, decreased healthcare costs, and fewer malpractice claims.2-4 Good communication skills are essential for interacting with patients and for providing effective health care.2 In addition to communication skills, there are three elements that impact health communication. The Joint Commission described limited English proficiency, cultural differences, and low health literacy as the “triple threat” to effective health communication and patient safety, and it urges clinicians and organizations to address this triple threat in order to improve the safety and quality of patient care.5.

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.

–Tony Robbins

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Definition of “Communication” Merriam-Webseter.com. Merriam-Webster; n.d. Web. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication. Accessed 11 May 2016.

  2. Griffith CH, Wilson JF, Langer S, Haist SA. House staff nonverbal communication skills and standardized patient satisfaction. J Gen Intern Med. 2003;18(3):170–4. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.10506.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Ha JF, Longnecker N. Doctor-patient communication: a review. Ochsner J. 2010;10(1):38–43.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Teutsch C. Patient-doctor communication. Med Clin North Am. 2003;87(5):1115–45.5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Schyve PM. Language differences as a barrier to quality and safety in health care: the Joint Commission perspective. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22(Suppl 2):360–1. doi:10.1007/s11606-007-0365-3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. National action plan to improve health literacy. Washington: Author; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Quote from Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu, MD, MPH—Acting United States Surgeon General, found in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lead Health Literacy Initiative Web. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tools/leadliteracy.htm. Accessed 11 May 2016.

  8. Definition of “Literacy” Merriam-Webseter.com. Merriam-Webster; n.d. Web. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literacy. Accessed 11 May 2016.

  9. National Assessment of Adult Literacy Definition of Literacy. https://nces.ed.gov/naal/fr_definition.asp. Accessed 11 May 2016.

  10. “What is Health Literacy?” Report brief health literacy: a prescription to end confusion. National Academies Press Web. http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2004/Health-Literacy-A-Prescription-to-End-Confusion/healthliteracyfinal.pdf. Accessed 11 May 2016.

  11. Institute of Medicine (US) Roundtable on Health Literacy. Measures of health literacy: workshop summary. Washington: National Academies Press; 2009. 6, Measuring health literacy: what? So what? Now what? http://www.ncbinlmnihgov/books/NBK45386/. Accessed 1 June 2016.

  12. Definition of “Universal Precautions” United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA Web. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/univprec/univ.html. Accessed 1 June 2016.

  13. What are health literacy universal precautions? Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ Web. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/quality-resources/tools/literacy-toolkit/index.html. Accessed 1 June 2016.

  14. Definition of “Common Sense” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster; n.d. Web. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20sense. Accessed 11 May 2016.

  15. Pleasant A, Rudd RE, O’Leary C, Paasche-Orlow MK, Allen MP, Alvarado-Little W, Myers L, Parson K, Rosen S. Considerations for a new definition of health literacy. Discussion paper. Washington: National Academy of Medicine. http://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Considerations-for-a-New-Definition-ofHealth-Literacy.pdf. Accessed 1 June 2016

  16. Kirsch I, Jungeblut A, Jenkins L, et al. Adult literacy in America: a first look at the results of the National Adult Literacy Survey. Washington: National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  17. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs93/93275.pdf. Accessed 5 Feb 2016.

  18. Weiss BD. Health literacy: a manual for clinicians. Chicago: American Medical Association Foundation and American Medical Association; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  19. http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED493284.pdf. Accessed Feb 2016.

  20. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/2006483.pdf. Accessed 5 Feb 2016.

  21. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/99-total-population-by-child-and-adult#detailed/1/any/false/869,36,868,867,14/39,40,41/416,417. Accessed 5 Feb 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bass III PF, Wilson JF, Griffith CH, et al. Residents’ ability to identify patients with poor literacy skills. Acad Med. 2002;77(10):1039–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kelly PA, Haidet P. Physician overestimation of patient literacy: a potential source of health care disparities. Patient Educ Couns 2007;66(1):119–22.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Parikh NS, Parker RM, Nurss JR, et al. Shame and health literacy: the unspoken connection. Patient Educ Couns. 1996;27(1):33–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Baker DW, Parker RM, Williams MV, et al. The health care experience of patients with low literacy. Arch Fam Med. 1996;5(6):329–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Cornett S. Assessing and addressing health literacy. Online J of Issues in Nursing 2009;14. http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol142009/No3Sept09/Assessing-Health-Literacy-.html. Accessed 5 Feb 2016.

  27. Collins SA, Currie LM, Bakken S, et al. Health literacy screening instruments for eHealth applications: a systematic review. J Biomed Inform. 2012;45(3):598–607.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Paasche-Orlow MK, Wolf MS. Evidence does not support clinical screening of literacy. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(1):100–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/2006483.pdf. Accessed 10 Feb 2016.

  30. Parker RM, Ratzan SC, Lurie N. Health literacy: a policy challenge for advancing high-quality health care. Health Aff. 2003;22(4):147–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Calvo R. Health literacy and quality of care among Latino immigrants in the United States. Health Soc Work. 2016;41(1):e44–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Chari R, Warsh J, Ketterer T, et al. Association between health literacy and child and adolescent obesity. Patient Educ Couns. 2014;94(1):61–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Sharif I, Blank AE. Relationship between child health literacy and body mass index in overweight children. Patient Educ Couns. 2010;79(1):43–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. https://www.idf.org/metabolic-syndrome/children. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  35. Pulgarón ER, Sanders LM, Patiño-Fernandez AM, et al. Glycemic control in young children with diabetes: the role of parental health literacy. Patient Educ Couns. 2014;94(1):67–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Zoellner J, You W, Connel C, et al. Health literacy is associated with healthy eating index scores and sugar-sweetened beverage intake: findings from the rural Lower Mississippi Delta. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(7):1012–20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Ciampa PJ, White RO, Perrin EM, et al. The association of acculturation and health literacy, numeracy and health-related skills in Spanish-speaking caregivers of young children. J Immigr Minor Health. 2013;15(3):492–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Pati S, Feemster KA, Mohamad Z, et al. Maternal health literacy and late initiation of immunizations among an inner-city birth cohort. Matern Child Health J. 2011;15(3):386–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Berkman ND, Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, et al. Health literacy interventions and outcomes: an updated systematic review. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 199. Prepared by RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence based Practice Center under contract No. 290-2007-10056-I. AHRQ Publication Number 11-E006. Rockville: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Fotheringham MJ, Sawyer MG. Adherence to recommended medical regimens in childhood and adolescence. J Paediatr Child Health. 1995;31:72–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Mattar ME, Markello J, Yaffe SJ. Inadequacies in the pharmacologic management of ambulatory children. J Pediatr. 1975;87:137–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Carrick P. Medical ethics in the ancient world. Washington: Georgetown University Press; 2001. p 105.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Osterberg L, Blaschke T. Adherence to medication. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:487–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Martin LR, Williams SL, Haskard KB, et al. The challenge of patient adherence. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2005;1:189–99.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Festa RS, Tamaroff MH, Chasalow F, et al. Therapeutic adherence to oral medication regimens by adolescents with cancer. I. Laboratory assessment. J Pediatr. 1991;120:807–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Meyers KE, Weiland H, Thomson PD. Paediatric renal transplantation non-compliance. Pediatr Nephrol. 1995;9:189–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Harrington KF, Zhang B, Magruder T, Bailey WC, Gerald LB. The impact of parent’s health literacy on pediatric asthma outcomes. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. 2015;28(1):20–6. doi:10.1089/ped.2014.0379.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Morrisonon AK, Myrvik MP, Brousseau DC, Hoffmann RG, Stanley RM. The relationship between parent health literacy and pediatric emergency department utilization: a systematic review. Acad Pediatr. 2013;13(5):421–9. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2013.03.001.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Wynia MK, Osborn CY. Health literacy and communication quality in health care organizations. J Health Commun. 2010;15(Suppl 2):102–15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Easton P, Entwistle VA, Williams B. How the stigma of low literacy can impair patient-professional spoken interactions and affect health: insights from a qualitative investigation. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013;13:319.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Smith SG, Wolf MS, von Wagner C. Socioeconomic status, statistical confidence, and patient-provider communication: an analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 2007). J Health Commun. 2010;15(Suppl 3):169–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Smith SA, Moore EJ. Health literacy and depression in the context of home visitation. Matern Child Health J. 2012;16(7):1500–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Jimenez ME, Barg FK, Guevara JP, et al. The impact of parental health literacy on the early intervention referral process. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2013;24(3):1053–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kumar D, Sanders L, Perrin EM, et al. Parental understanding of infant health information: health literacy, numeracy, and the Parental Health Literacy Activities Test (PHLAT). Acad Pediatr. 2010;10(5):309–16.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Morrisonon AK, Myrvik MP, Brousseau DC, et al. The relationship between parent health literacy and pediatric emergency department utilization: a systematic review. Acad Pediatr. 2013;13(5):421–9.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Paasche-Orlow MK, Parker RM, Gazmararian JA, et al. The prevalence of limited health literacy. J Gen Intern Med. 2005;20(2):175–84.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Hurt L, Pinto CD, Watson J, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diagnosis and screening for obesity-related conditions among children and teens receiving Medicaid—Maryland, 2005-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(14):305–8.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Cunningham SA, Kramer MR, Narayan KMV. Incidence of childhood obesity in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:403–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  59. Deis JN, Spiro DM, Jenkins CA, et al. Parental knowledge and use of preventive asthma care measures in two pediatric emergency departments. J Asthma. 2010 Jun;47(5):551–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Macy ML, Davis MM, Clark SJ, et al. Parental health literacy and asthma education delivery during a visit to a community-based pediatric emergency department: a pilot study. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2011;27(6):469–74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  61. Gandhi PK, Kenzik KM, Thompson LA, et al. Exploring factors influencing asthma control and asthma-specific health-related quality of life among children. Respir Res. 2013;14:26.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. DeWalt D, Dilling N, Rosenthal M, Pignone M. Low parental literacy is associated with worse asthma care measures in children. Ambul Pediatr. 2007;7:25–31.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Osborn CY, Cavanaugh K, Wallston KA, et al. Self-efficacy links health literacy and numeracy to glycemic control. J Health Commun. 2010;15(Suppl 2):146–58.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Tanner S, Wells M, Scarbecz M, et al. Parents’ understanding of and accuracy in using measuring devices to administer liquid oral pain medication. J Am Dent Assoc. 2014;145(2):141–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Yin HS, Dreyer BP, Foltin G, et al. Association of low caregiver health literacy with reported use of non-standardized dosing instruments and lack of knowledge of weight-based dosing. Ambul Pediatr. 2007;7(4):292–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Yin HS, Mendelsohn AL, Wolf MS, et al. Parents’ medication administration errors: role of dosing instruments and health literacy. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010;164:181–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Bayldon BW, Glusman M, Fortuna NM, et al. Exploring caregiver understanding of medications immediately after a pediatric primary care visit. Patient Educ Couns. 2013;91(2):255–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Freedman RB, Jones SK, Lin A, et al. Influence of parental health literacy and dosing responsibility on pediatric glaucoma medication adherence. Arch Ophthalmol. 2012;130(3):306–11.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  69. Ferris ME, Cuttance JR, Javalkar K, et al. Self-management and transition among adolescents/young adults with chronic or end-stage kidney disease. Blood Purif. 2015;39(1–3):99–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Lewis SA, Noyes J. Effective process or dangerous precipice: qualitative comparative embedded case study with young people with epilepsy and their parents during transition from children's to adult services. BMC Pediatr. 2013 Oct;13:169.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Huang JS, Tobin A, Tompane T. Clinicians poorly assess health literacy-related readiness for transition to adult care in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;10(6):626–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA

    Rosina Avila Connelly

  2. Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Michael E. Speer M.D. (Professor of Pediatrics and Ethics)

Authors
  1. Rosina Avila Connelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael E. Speer M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosina Avila Connelly .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA

    Rosina Avila Connelly

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    Teri Turner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 The Editor(s) and The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Connelly, R.A., Speer, M.E. (2017). Health Literacy and Health Communication. In: Connelly, R., Turner, T. (eds) Health Literacy and Child Health Outcomes. SpringerBriefs in Public Health(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50799-6_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation