Rachel Y. Moon|Tina L. Cheng|Kantilal M. Patel|Kalanit Baumhaft|Peter C. Scheidt
Parental Literacy Level and Understanding of Medical Information
Children's National|George Washington University|Children's National|George Washington University|Children's National|George Washington University|Children's National|George Washington University
ascertain impact literacy level parents understanding medical information ability follow therapy prescribed childrena prospective cohort parents accompanying children acute care parents interviewed demographic status childs health use pediatric preventive services rapid estimate adult literacy medicine realm test used assess parental literacy parent interviewed 48 96 hours later asked recall childs diagnosis medication prescribed instructionsa total 633 patients enrolled followup obtained 543 patients 858 mean parental age 3243 years sd 907 mean realm score 576 sd 109 corresponding 7th 8thgrade reading level mean parental educational level 1343 years sd 209 low realm score significantly correlated young parental age parental education africanamerican race associated lower realm scores controlling variables realm score significantly correlated parental perception sick child use preventive services comprehension diagnosis medication name instructions ability obtain administer prescribed medicationsparental literacy level correlate use preventive services parental understanding ability follow medical instructions children