The American Academy of Pediatrics:Addressing Health Literacy

• Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee– Initial meeting in Fall 2005– 14 members– Adult learners

• Literacy Promotion Toolkit– In development

• Collaboration with Reach Out and Read

AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Directives

• Develop an agenda for the AAP & pediatric community to address the challenges that low health literacy presents for children & families.

• Increase awareness among practicing pediatricians, pediatricians-in-training, & pediatric care providers about how health literacy is fundamental to quality care & relates to the quality improvement aims:

– Safety– Patient-centered care– Equitable treatment.

• Develop pediatric-specific educational opportunities & practice tools.

AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Directives - 2

• Examine ways the pediatric community can promote & facilitate development of health literacy skills among children & families.

• Pursue research opportunities to:– Assess pediatrician attitudes & practices

concerning patient communication & health literacy

– Evaluate the appropriateness & effectiveness of plain language materials developed by the AAP

– Test health literacy-focused interventions within practice settings.

AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee (PAC)

• Pediatric condition-specific health literacy guidebook

• AAP Plain Language handouts (English & Spanish)

• Web-based HL resource for residency training programs (PediaLink)

• Research to support & guide pediatric HL efforts (Periodic Survey of Fellows, Graduating Resident Survey)

• Pediatrics & health literacy conference

• Integrate health literacy into other Academy efforts

AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs

• Identified conditions:– Common– Ambulatory– Acute, chronic, preventive– Infancy thru late adolescence

• Derived from existing hand-outs• Plain language expert

• HL PAC members reviewed & prioritized content

• Plain language principles for text & lay-out– Need-to-know– Need to do– Key concepts

• Multiple drafts• New design template

AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs - 2

• Illustrations:– Realistic– Diverse– Reflect content– Show correct way to do things– Relevant to readers

• Before & after reading levels– Before: 9th to 10th grade– After: 5th to 7th grade

• Spanish translation– Supported by Reach Out and Read

AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs - 3

• Compendium – Fall 2007 (NCE)• Guidebook w/ CD-ROM• Future:

– Integrate HL & plain language in additional AAP patient materials• Pedialink• Additional hand-outs – new & revised• Policy statements• Other…

AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs

Health Literacy PAC Members

Mary Ann Abrams, MD, MPH

Barbara Bayldon, MDCarmelita Britton, MDEllen Buerk, MD (AAP Board)Steven Federico, MDShalini Forbis, MDMariana Glusman, MD

Benard Dreyer, MD

Perri Klass, MDLee Sanders, MD, MPHJoanne Schwartzberg, MDMichael Speer, MDTeri Turner, MDModena Wilson, MD, MPH

Audrey Riffenburgh, MA Archie Willard Deb Pettit(Plain Language Expert) (Adult Learners)

Co-Chairs

Members

Special Guests:

Getting Started

• What can you do, by Tuesday, to make a small change in…– Creating a shame-free, patient-centered care

environment?– Ensuring parents & patients understand by using

plain language, teach-back, or Ask Me 3?– Simplifying use of print materials in your setting?

• Consider…starting w/ a small test of change:– Try teach-back w/ the last patient of the day

Remember, what’s clear to you, is clear to you!

Health Literacy Resources

Visit the Community Pediatrics Web site to view a list of Health Literacy Resources:

www.aap.org/commpeds/resources/health_literacy.html