Wendy C Shields1, Eileen M McDonald2, Lara B McKenzie3, Andrea C Gielen2. 1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA wshields@jhsph.edu. 2. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. 3. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study assesses parents' literacy skills and evaluates how literacy levels influenced the effectiveness of a health communication intervention designed to improve safety knowledge in low-income, urban families. METHODS: A total of n = 450 parents of children aged 4 to 66 months completed the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and participated in a randomized trial of an injury prevention intervention delivered via computer kiosk in a pediatric emergency department. A safety knowledge test was administered by telephone 2 to 4 weeks later. RESULTS: More than one-third of parents were assessed by the REALM to have marginal (30%) or inadequate (8%) reading levels; the remaining 62% of parents had adequate reading levels. REALM scores were independently associated with knowledge gains for poison storage and smoke alarms. CONCLUSIONS: Participants reading level had an independent and significant effect on safety knowledge outcomes. Literacy level should be considered in all patient education efforts.
OBJECTIVE: This study assesses parents' literacy skills and evaluates how literacy levels influenced the effectiveness of a health communication intervention designed to improve safety knowledge in low-income, urban families. METHODS: A total of n = 450 parents of children aged 4 to 66 months completed the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and participated in a randomized trial of an injury prevention intervention delivered via computer kiosk in a pediatric emergency department. A safety knowledge test was administered by telephone 2 to 4 weeks later. RESULTS: More than one-third of parents were assessed by the REALM to have marginal (30%) or inadequate (8%) reading levels; the remaining 62% of parents had adequate reading levels. REALM scores were independently associated with knowledge gains for poison storage and smoke alarms. CONCLUSIONS: Participants reading level had an independent and significant effect on safety knowledge outcomes. Literacy level should be considered in all patient education efforts.
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