The American Academy of Pediatrics: Addressing Health Literacy

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics:Addressing Health Literacy • Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee • Initial meeting in Fall 2005 • 14 members • Adult learners • Literacy Promotion Toolkit • In development • Collaboration with Reach Out and Read

2. AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Directives • Develop an agenda for the AAP & pediatric community to address the challenges that low health literacy presents for children & families. • Increase awareness among practicing pediatricians, pediatricians-in-training, & pediatric care providers about how health literacy is fundamental to quality care & relates to the quality improvement aims: • Safety • Patient-centered care • Equitable treatment. • Develop pediatric-specific educational opportunities & practice tools.

3. AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Directives - 2 • Examine ways the pediatric community can promote & facilitate development of health literacy skills among children & families. • Pursue research opportunities to: • Assess pediatrician attitudes & practices concerning patient communication & health literacy • Evaluate the appropriateness & effectiveness of plain language materials developed by the AAP • Test health literacy-focused interventions within practice settings.

4. AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee (PAC) • Pediatric condition-specific health literacy guidebook • AAP Plain Language handouts (English & Spanish) • Web-based HL resource for residency training programs (PediaLink) • Research to support & guide pediatric HL efforts (Periodic Survey of Fellows, Graduating Resident Survey) • Pediatrics & health literacy conference • Integrate health literacy into other Academy efforts

5. AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs • Identified conditions: • Common • Ambulatory • Acute, chronic, preventive • Infancy thru late adolescence • Derived from existing hand-outs • Plain language expert

6. AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs - 2 • HL PAC members reviewed & prioritized content • Plain language principles for text & lay-out • Need-to-know • Need to do • Key concepts • Multiple drafts • New design template

7. AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs - 3 • Illustrations: • Realistic • Diverse • Reflect content • Show correct way to do things • Relevant to readers • Before & after reading levels • Before: 9th to 10th grade • After: 5th to 7th grade • Spanish translation • Supported by Reach Out and Read

12. AAP Plain Language Patient Education Hand-Outs • Compendium – Fall 2007 (NCE) • Guidebook w/ CD-ROM • Future: • Integrate HL & plain language in additional AAP patient materials • Pedialink • Additional hand-outs – new & revised • Policy statements • Other…

13. Health Literacy PAC Members Co-Chairs Benard Dreyer, MD Perri Klass, MD Lee Sanders, MD, MPH Joanne Schwartzberg, MD Michael Speer, MD Teri Turner, MD Modena Wilson, MD, MPH Mary Ann Abrams, MD, MPH Barbara Bayldon, MD Carmelita Britton, MD Ellen Buerk, MD (AAP Board) Steven Federico, MD Shalini Forbis, MD Mariana Glusman, MD Members Special Guests: Audrey Riffenburgh, MA Archie Willard Deb Pettit (Plain Language Expert) (Adult Learners)

14. Getting Started • What can you do, by Tuesday, to make a small change in… • Creating a shame-free, patient-centered care environment? • Ensuring parents & patients understand by using plain language, teach-back, or Ask Me 3? • Simplifying use of print materials in your setting? • Consider…starting w/ a small test of change: • Try teach-back w/ the last patient of the day Remember, what’s clear to you, is clear to you!

15. Health Literacy Resources Visit the Community Pediatrics Web site to view a list of Health Literacy Resources: www.aap.org/commpeds/resources/health_literacy.html