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Health Literacy and Effective Health Communication in Pediatric Practices and Health Systems: Creating Shame-Free Environments and Patient-Friendly Institutions

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Health Literacy and Child Health Outcomes

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

Abstract

Shame has been defined as a “painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety.”1 Several researchers have characterized patients with low literacy as being unwilling to disclose their problems to healthcare providers because of their shame.2,3 Contributing to this feeling of inadequacy is the reading level of most patient materials. Wilson examined 35 unique patient educational materials produced by professional sources (government agencies, drug companies, and state/national organizations) or by providers.4 Professionally developed materials had significantly higher reading levels and were more difficult to read, but all materials were written at a reading level higher than most adults can comprehend.4

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 6621 Fannin Street, Clinical Care Center, Suite 1540.00, Houston, TX, 77030-2399, USA

    Aditi Gupta DO

  2. Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Suite W6104, Mail Stop: MC WT6-10, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Michael E. Speer M.D.

Authors
  1. Aditi Gupta DO
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  2. Michael E. Speer M.D.
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Correspondence to Aditi Gupta DO .

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

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Gupta, A., Speer, M.E. (2017). Health Literacy and Effective Health Communication in Pediatric Practices and Health Systems: Creating Shame-Free Environments and Patient-Friendly Institutions. 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_5

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