Orkan Okan1, P Pinheiro, P Zamora, U Bauer. 1. Fakultät für Erziehungswissenschaft, Zentrum für Prävention und Intervention im Kindes- und Jugendalter (ZPI), Universität Bielefeld, Raum: UHG M7-118, Postfach 10 01 31, 33501, Bielefeld, Deutschland, orkan.okan@uni-bielefeld.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health literacy is multidisciplinary and brings together many concepts, and is of increasing importance for disease protection, health promotion, and prevention, and for health policy within Europe. Although its importance is increasingly recognised, adults are mostly the target audience, whereas children and adolescents, in addition to education and schools, have so far been neglected. OBJECTIVES: The aim is to give an overview of the state of the art in childhood and adolescence health literacy research, and to identify any existing gaps. MATERIALS: A literature review has been performed to identify the relevant research data. RESULTS: Limitations in developmental and age-adjusted conceptual frameworks and a lack of prevalence data, however, significantly impede our understanding of the meaning of health literacy in children and adolescents. School health promotion programmes could serve as a platform for effective health literacy education, beginning in early childhood. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to compatibility with a broader literacy perspective, the proximity to several theories of health promotion and defined concepts, and the importance of school health promotion and education, it is vital to focus research on current gaps in the understanding of health literacy determinants, health literacy as a determinant of health, and in terms of the design and systematic implementation of intervention programmes.
BACKGROUND: Health literacy is multidisciplinary and brings together many concepts, and is of increasing importance for disease protection, health promotion, and prevention, and for health policy within Europe. Although its importance is increasingly recognised, adults are mostly the target audience, whereas children and adolescents, in addition to education and schools, have so far been neglected. OBJECTIVES: The aim is to give an overview of the state of the art in childhood and adolescence health literacy research, and to identify any existing gaps. MATERIALS: A literature review has been performed to identify the relevant research data. RESULTS: Limitations in developmental and age-adjusted conceptual frameworks and a lack of prevalence data, however, significantly impede our understanding of the meaning of health literacy in children and adolescents. School health promotion programmes could serve as a platform for effective health literacy education, beginning in early childhood. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to compatibility with a broader literacy perspective, the proximity to several theories of health promotion and defined concepts, and the importance of school health promotion and education, it is vital to focus research on current gaps in the understanding of health literacy determinants, health literacy as a determinant of health, and in terms of the design and systematic implementation of intervention programmes.
Authors: Orkan Okan; Ester Lopes; Torsten Michael Bollweg; Janine Bröder; Melanie Messer; Dirk Bruland; Emma Bond; Graça S Carvalho; Kristine Sørensen; Luis Saboga-Nunes; Diane Levin-Zamir; Diana Sahrai; Uwe H Bittlingmayer; Jürgen M Pelikan; Malcolm Thomas; Ullrich Bauer; Paulo Pinheiro Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-01-22 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Leena Paakkari; Minna Torppa; Joanna Mazur; Zuzana Boberova; Gorden Sudeck; Michal Kalman; Olli Paakkari Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-05-19 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Anne-Kathrin M Loer; Olga M Domanska; Christiane Stock; Susanne Jordan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-23 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Kathrin Hofer-Fischanger; Bianca Fuchs-Neuhold; Alexander Müller; Gerlinde Grasser; Mireille N M van Poppel Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-02-21 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Digo Chakraverty; Annika Baumeister; Angela Aldin; Tina Jakob; Ümran Sema Seven; Christiane Woopen; Nicole Skoetz; Elke Kalbe Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-03-25 Impact factor: 3.390