Health Literacy Implementation Principles

Abstract

Background As part of the course requirement for a postgraduate acute care pediatric nurse practitioner program, a patient/family education project was presented using health literacy principles to support the materials developed. The project represents previously implemented materials for a newly developed pediatric colorectal program; this is a retrospective synthesis. Purpose Understanding and including the population served when designing, implementing, and evaluating health information and services are imperative in emerging health literacy foci. Previously health literacy focused on patients and their skills or deficits that were then linked to health outcomes. Later, the focus shifted to the clinician's rigor and skill in communication. New developments in health literacy shift the focus from skills, public, and staff to an emphasis on the interplay of the environment, which either limits or facilitates health literacy. Methods Pediatric colorectal care gap analysis from 2018 to 2021 for the state where the program was created provides a needs assessment of the population of interest. A descriptive narrative of the process for designing, implementing, and evaluating health literate services is presented. Information on current literature and materials to integrate health literacy principles is explored. Conclusion This article contributes to a need for more available literature on developing health literacy in pediatric colorectal program development and care. The findings challenge clinicians to incorporate health literacy best practice attributes in healthcare environments and monitor and use quality improvement methods that address health disparities.