Health literacy in childhood and youth: a systematic review of definitions and models

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Jürgen Pelikan¹  Graça S. Carvalho²  Janine Bröder³  Ullrich Bauer³  Torsten M. Bollweg³  Dirk Bruland³  Sandra Schlupp³  Orkan Okan³  Paulo Pinheiro³  Kristine Sørensen⁴  Patricia Wahl⁵  Albert Lenz⁵  Luis Saboga-Nunes⁶  Olga Domanska⁷  Susanne Jordan⁷  Christiane Firnges⁷  Malcolm Thomas⁸  Diana Sahrai⁹  Diane Levin-Zamir^1,10  Fabian Kessl^1,11  Uwe H. Bittlingmayer^1,12  Eva-Maria Bitzer^1,12  Emma Bond^1,13 

[1] Austrian Public Health Institute, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH, Wien, Austria;CIEC, Institute of Education, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal;Centre for Prevention and Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence CPI, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany;Global Health Literacy Academy, Urmond, The Netherlands;Katholische Hochschule Nordrhein-Westfalen, Paderborn, Germany;National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany;School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK;School of Education, Basel, Switzerland;School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel;University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany;University of Education, Freiburg i.Br, Germany;University of Suffolk, Ipswich, UK;

关键词: Health Literacy;    Health Competencies;    Children;    Young People;    Adolescents;    Pupils;    Definitions;    Conceptual Models;    Dimensions;    Literature Review;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-017-4267-y

 received in 2016-07-21, accepted in 2017-04-13,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundChildren and young people constitute a core target group for health literacy research and practice: during childhood and youth, fundamental cognitive, physical and emotional development processes take place and health-related behaviours and skills develop. However, there is limited knowledge and academic consensus regarding the abilities and knowledge a child or young person should possess for making sound health decisions. The research presented in this review addresses this gap by providing an overview and synthesis of current understandings of health literacy in childhood and youth. Furthermore, the authors aim to understand to what extent available models capture the unique needs and characteristics of children and young people.MethodSix databases were systematically searched with relevant search terms in English and German. Of the n = 1492 publications identified, N = 1021 entered the abstract screening and N = 340 full-texts were screened for eligibility. A total of 30 articles, which defined or conceptualized generic health literacy for a target population of 18 years or younger, were selected for a four-step inductive content analysis.ResultsThe systematic review of the literature identified 12 definitions and 21 models that have been specifically developed for children and young people. In the literature, health literacy in children and young people is described as comprising variable sets of key dimensions, each appearing as a cluster of related abilities, skills, commitments, and knowledge that enable a person to approach health information competently and effectively and to derive at health-promoting decisions and actions.DiscussionIdentified definitions and models are very heterogeneous, depicting health literacy as multidimensional, complex construct. Moreover, health literacy is conceptualized as an action competence, with a strong focus on personal attributes, while also recognising its interrelatedness with social and contextual determinants. Life phase specificities are mainly considered from a cognitive and developmental perspective, leaving children’s and young people’s specific needs, vulnerabilities, and social structures poorly incorporated within most models. While a critical number of definitions and models were identified for youth or secondary school students, similar findings are lacking for children under the age of ten or within a primary school context.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017