Identifying the Preferred Method to Educate Low Income Caregivers About Common Childhood Illnesses: A Step Toward Health Literacy Through a Focus Group Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this focus group was to identify the preferred method of education for low-income caregivers to learn about common childhood illnesses in an effort to meet their health literacy needs.

Methods: Focus group participants were recruited from two sources; caregivers who qualified for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food and Nutrition Services and those attending a monthly prenatal health education program for low-income pregnant women. Participants were asked to rank in order of preference five educational options. The five options included a commonly used diagnosis-specific handout, a booklet of the most common childhood illnesses and symptoms, a comprehensive book of common childhood illness and symptoms, a 24-hour nurse call line, and a mobile application developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All options provided accurate information from professional sources.

Results: The ranking of the five educational options identified the mobile application developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, KidsDoc, to be the preferred method with the commonly used diagnosis-specific handout as the least favorite option.

Conclusion/practice implications: The United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) has identified a need to change the way health information is designed and delivered. Identifying that materials should be redesigned using best practices to reduce health literacy demands and match consumer preferences, the USDHHS calls for periodic testing of materials with the intended consumers. This focus group provides valuable information and a step toward future research to address health literacy using materials identified by low-income consumers.

Keywords: Common childhood illnesses; Health literacy; Low income caregivers.