Tips to become a health literacy hero

Contributing Authors:

Angie Knackstedt, BSN, RN-BC – Bioethics

Barbie Rudder, MA, CCLS – Manager, Child Life

A child and an adult are sitting at a table in what appears to be a medical office. The child is wearing a pink top, and the adult has long dark hair. Both have their faces blurred for privacy. Across from them sits another person in a white coat, likely a healthcare professional, whose back is to the camera. The room is bright with light-colored walls and furniture.

As parents, we all want the best for our children. Especially when it comes to their health.

Medical information can sometimes feel like a secret language, and you may wish you had a superpower to decode it. Good news - you do! Health literacy tips and tools are at your fingertips.

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is your ability to find, understand and use health information to make informed decisions for your child's wellbeing. It is your right to understand the information given by health care professionals. Better health literacy can lead to better health outcomes for your child.

Communicate with your child's medical team.

Open, clear communication with your child's medical team is crucial. You know your child best. Share your thoughts and concerns with the team. Always ask any questions you have. Remember, no question is too small! If you think of questions or concerns at home, you can share them by calling the medical team or through your child's patient portal.

Prepare for medical visits.

Before going to a medical visit, prepare a list of your child's medicines and things you want to discuss with the doctor. You can use this helpful form to track them, as well as take notes of any information given at the visit.

Understand medical information.

Know how your child should take their medicine and what side effects to watch for. Make sure you can follow all the instructions at home. If you do not understand medical information, ask questions! Ask your child’s team to explain in simpler terms, show you pictures or share other tools. Many parents find it helpful to try to “teach back” (repeat back) the medical information or instructions, so their medical team can clarify anything they misunderstood or forgot.

Involve your child in their health care.

Help your child to be an active partner in their health care. Teach them about their medicines, health conditions and allergies. Help them prepare for medical procedures and visits by talking with them about what to expect. Encourage them to ask questions, too.

Find reliable information.

Reliable, evidence-based health information is essential. Look for information from sources like the federal government, local public libraries and national nonprofit organizations. Be cautious of information from less reliable sources. Not all health information is created equal.

Resources for parents

You can always ask your child’s medical team for resources like written instructions, brochures, videos, and websites.

KidsHealth is tool that gives access to thousands of articles related to questions parents, kids or teens might have.
Visit this What to Expect page on childrenmercy.org to know what to expect for various procedures before your visit.
Check the discharge instructions you received at your child’s visit to remind you later at home.

Boost your health literacy to navigate the health care system and make informed decisions about your child's health. Remember, you are not alone! Your child’s health care team is there to support you every step of the way. So, put on your health literacy cape and be the superhero your child needs!

More resources