Promotion of Elementary School Students' Health Literacy

Health literacy in the context of child health promotion: a scoping review of conceptualizations and descriptions

BACKGROUND

Increasing health literacy (HL) in children could be an opportunity for a more health literate future generation. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of how HL is conceptualized and described in the context of health promotion in 9-12-year-old children.

METHODS

A systematic and comprehensive search for 'health literacy' and 'children' and 'measure' was performed in accordance with PRISMA ScR in PubMed, Embase.com and via Ebsco in CINAHL, APA PsycInfo and ERIC. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts and evaluated full-text publications regarding eligibility. Data was extracted systematically, and the extracted descriptions of HL were analyzed qualitatively using deductive analysis based on previously published HL definitions.

RESULTS

The search provided 5,401 original titles, of which 26 eligible publications were included. We found a wide variation of descriptions of learning outcomes as well as competencies for HL. Most HL descriptions could be linked to commonly used definitions of HL in the literature, and some combined several HL dimensions. The descriptions varied between HL dimensions and were not always relevant to health promotion. The educational setting plays a prominent role in HL regarding health promotion.

CONCLUSION

The description of HL is truly diverse and complex encompassing a wide range of topics. We recommend adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to describe HL dimensions, particularly in the context of health promotion for children. By considering the diverse dimensions of HL and its integration within educational programs, children can learn HL skills and competencies from an early age.

Health literacy education of children in Austrian elementary schools

Health literacy (HL) in children is essential for healthy decision-making from early on. At six Austrian elementary schools, all children (aged 6-11 years) received 3 years of health education (HE). The participating schools were equipped with teaching materials to convey lessons in a child-oriented way. The teachers were professionally accompanied during the implementation process and received specific training. HL and its subprocesses (obtain, understand, comprehend and apply) in children >8 years were measured with a standardized test (QUIGK-K) after 1, 2 and 3 years of education and compared with values from two comparison schools without such lessons. t-Tests showed a significant increase in HL at the end of the second year of HE. After this period, the children showed above-average values on all subprocesses of HL and performed better than children without HE. The third year did not lead to a further increase. Hence, child-oriented HE is suitable to promote HL in elementary school students within 2 years. It is therefore recommended to start HE as early as possible in order to lay the foundation for a long and healthy life.

Health literacy in childhood and adolescence. A bibliometric analysis of scientific publications and professionals' involvement

Background

Health Literacy (HL) is a powerful tool to empower children and adolescents in their own health. School nurses are the professionals who, with their expertise in health promotion and education, can facilitate this literacy throughout the educational process.

Purpose

To analyze the scientific production in HL in childhood and adolescence in the last two decades, and to determine the involvement of professionals in this field, with emphasis on nursing professionals.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature (from 2000 to 2021) of articles retrieved from the Web of Science database was carried out. Original articles in all languages were considered as inclusion criteria. Bibliometrix 3.1.4 package from RStudio and VOSviewer were used to analyze publications and explain main results about citations, authors, countries, keywords trends, evolution, clusters of related terms, and professionals' involvement.

Results

A total of 2032 articles were included in the analysis. The results of the analysis showed that both publications and citations increased substantially since 2014. The most prolific authors in this field are not the most cited so far. The countries that published the most during the period evaluated were the United States, Australia and Canada. The keyword clusters identified in this scientometric study made it possible to determine hotspots in the study of HL in childhood and adolescence, with "mental health" being one of the main terms identified. There are different health-related professionals who are publishing in this field; in spite of this, nurses are not visible as authors in the publications.

Conclusion

The scientific literature on HL in childhood and adolescence is a growing field in which different professionals are involved. Despite the increase in the number of publications, and despite the role that nurses play in schools regarding HL, their presence in scientific production is practically nonexistent.

Change in children's perception of cancer in the last 10 years in Japan

BACKGROUND

Social awareness of cancer can be changed with cancer education and proper distribution of cancer information. This study addressed the current situation and historical changes to children's perception of cancer.

METHODS

Questionnaire surveys were conducted among healthy school children aged 10-15 years in 2008 and 2018. Knowledge of cancer was surveyed and compared with that of asthma, tuberculosis, and measles. The children were asked about their health information resources.

RESULTS

The numbers of participants and collection rates were 438 and 63.9% in 2008, and 320 and 44.7% in 2018. Children's perception of cancer changed significantly in the last decade. The proportion of respondents answering "cancer affects children" changed from 78.3 to 89.5% (P = 0.0001), "cancer is preventable" from 42.0 to 49.7% (P = 0.0425), and "cancer is curable," from 52.4 to 66.0% (P = 0.0003). Significantly more junior high school students answered that cancer is preventable than elementary school children in 2018 (55.9 vs 42.7%, P = 0.0028). The major resources of information on health were television, parents, and books. The proportion of children choosing the Internet significantly increased from 15.3 to 47.8% (P < 0.0001). Significantly more junior high school students selected television and the Internet than elementary school children (94.5 vs 86.9%, P = 0.0202 for television; 57.1 vs 37.9%, P = 0.0007 for the Internet).

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of children correctly perceiving cancer information had increased in the last decade. Junior high school students better understood the information. The Internet is of increasing importance as an information resource for school children.