{"id":2850,"date":"2024-09-06T14:49:44","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T13:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/?p=2850"},"modified":"2024-09-06T14:52:19","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T13:52:19","slug":"what-does-health-literacy-have-to-do-with-childrens-nursing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/2024\/09\/06\/what-does-health-literacy-have-to-do-with-childrens-nursing\/","title":{"rendered":"What does health literacy have to do with children\u2019s nursing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this blog for Week 2 of the CYP Series, Professor Lucy Bray @LucyBray9 from Edge Hill University discusses ‘<\/strong>What does health literacy have to do with children\u2019s nursing?’<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What does health literacy mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Health literacy, put simply, is the skills, knowledge and confidence people have to access, understand and use health information to make health related choices1<\/sup>. More broadly, health literacy is about so much more than accessible and simple health information, it considers how people and communities can access and use health services and resources and be empowered individually or collectively to improve health through social action and the political system2<\/sup>. Health literacy can contribute to reducing health inequalities and enable children and young people to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

It is important to acknowledge that health literacy is not just an individual static characteristic; something a person \u2018has\u2019 or \u2018doesn\u2019t have\u2019. It is influenced by the context they are in and the people, policies and systems around them 4,5<\/sup>. Understanding the dynamic nature of health literacy is important when working with children and young people, as their ability to process information and participate in making choices and decisions will vary in certain settings or when they are feeling unwell or overwhelmed. Children\u2019s health literacy is also impacted by the health literacy of their caregiver. In England, more than 4 out of 10 adults struggle to understand health information and this is even higher when health information includes numerical information6<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

How does health literacy relate to children\u2019s rights?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As health literacy refers to a child or young person\u2019s ability to access and use information to participate in decisions about their health and care, its importance is enshrined within every child\u2019s right to the best possible health and their right to access health information and to freely express their views, feelings and wishes and to have their views considered and taken seriously7<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Despite having these rights, children and young people repeatedly tell us that they are not as involved in decisions about their health and care as they would like to be8<\/sup> and children report feeling marginalised and excluded from some health care services and agendas9<\/sup>, particularly those from under-served communities10<\/sup>. When surveyed health professionals show low levels of knowledge around children\u2019s rights and how these relate to clinical practice11 <\/sup>and so in order for \u2018every<\/em> child to be given the best start in life\u20193<\/sup>, professionals, services and policies need to do more to implement children\u2019s rights and address the multiple and intersecting exclusions many children currently face.<\/p>\n

How can health literacy practice be applied to nursing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Health literacy is fundamental to so many parts of paediatric practice, for example, how a new diagnosis is communicated to a child and their family, how a child is prepared for a procedure, how a child is discharged home with medication and how young people and their families navigate complex health care services. As highlighted above, whilst it is important to consider a child\u2019s individual health literacy in all these examples of nursing practice, we need to also consider how \u2018health literate\u2019 we are as health professionals and organisations. When we think about the services we deliver, how easy is it for a young person or caregiver to use a website, to make an appointment and call through to a service or join in a consultation which includes complex information and medical language? It is important that all<\/em> children and young people have equitable opportunities to live healthy lives and know that they have rights within health care services. Services and systems can be quick to judge and label a child or family as \u2018not engaging\u2019, without considering how accessible the service being offered is and possible reasons for not attending.<\/p>\n