skip to main content

Instruments to Measure Health Literacy among Children: A Scoping Review

Ina Laela Abdillah  -  Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Lely Lusmilasari  -  Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
*Sri Hartini orcid scopus  -  Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Open Access Copyright (c) 2021 Jurnal Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia

Citation Format:
Abstract

Background: Research related to health literacy among children is limited due to the lack of appropriate measurement tools for this population. The measurement tools used to measure health literacy among children are usually adapted from the adult versions. Researches related to instruments measuring health literacy that can be used for children in school environments are inadequate. This study aimed to synthesize research on the instruments that measure health literacy among children in the community setting. Method: We carried out a scoping review to synthesize research on the instruments measuring health literacy among children in the community setting. The article searching process was targeted to collect articles with corresponding populations, concepts, and contexts. The search was conducted through PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Sage Journals databases published between 2010- 2020. The selection process was done using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methods (PRISMA). The following critical appraisal used The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results: Out of 328 studies, six articles were selected for this review. Consensus showed that health literacy needs to be applied in various situations. Improving the health literacy of children in the early stages is crucial for children's development and personal health. Several instruments can be applied to measure health literacy in school-age children, such as Health Literacy Measures for Adolescents, Health Literacy for School-aged Children in the English, Turkish and Lithuanian versions, and Chinese version of the eight-item Health Literacy Assessment Tool. Generally, the instruments are adequate, while only two instruments in this study are inadequate because they do not describe the validity and reliability.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: health literacy;children;measurement

Article Metrics:

  1. Tomás CC, Oliveira E, Sousa D, Uba-Chupel M, Furtado G, Rocha C, et al. Proceedings of the 3rd IPLeiria’s International Health Congress. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016 Jul;16(S3)
  2. Velardo S, Drummond M. Emphasizing the child in child health literacy research. J Child Heal Care. 2017;21(1):5–13
  3. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. INFO DATIN The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Conditions of Achievement of the Indonesian Child Health Program. Data and Information Center. 2014. 12 p
  4. Bröder J, Okan O, Bauer U, Bruland D, Schlupp S, Bollweg TM, et al. Health literacy in childhood and youth: A systematic review of definitions and models. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):1–25
  5. Guo S, Armstrong R, Waters E, Sathish T, Alif SM, Browne GR, et al. Quality of health literacy instruments used in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Vol. 8, BMJ Open. BMJ Publishing Group; 2018
  6. Ormshaw MJ, Paakkari LT, Kannas LK. Measuring child and adolescent health literacy: A systematic review of literature. Health Educ. 2013;113(5):433–55
  7. Perry EL. Health literacy in adolescents: An integrative review. J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2014;19(3):210–8
  8. Okan O, Lopes E, Bollweg TM, Bröder J, Messer M, Bruland D, et al. Generic health literacy measurement instruments for children and adolescents: a systematic review of the literature. BMC Public Health. 2018 Jan;18(1):166
  9. Schmidt CO, Fahland RA, Franze M, Splieth C, Thyrian JR, Plachta-Danielzik S, et al. Health-related behaviour, knowledge, attitudes, communication and social status in school children in Eastern Germany. Health Educ Res. 2010;25(4):542–51
  10. Wu AD, Begoray DL, MacDonald M, Wharf Higgins J, Frankish J, Kwan B, et al. Developing and evaluating a relevant and feasible instrument for measuring health literacy of Canadian high school students. Health Promot Int. 2010;25(4):444–52
  11. Pati D, Lorusso LN. How to Write a Systematic Review of the Literature. Heal Environ Res Des J. 2018 Jan;11(1):15–30
  12. Peters MDJ, Godfrey CM, Khalil H, McInerney P, Parker D, Soares CB. Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2015 Sep;13(3):141–6
  13. Paakkari O, Torppa M, Villberg J, Kannas L, Paakkari L. Subjective health literacy among school-aged children. Health Educ. 2018;118(2):182–95
  14. Haney MO. Psychometric testing of the Turkish version of the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children Scale. J Child Heal Care. 2018;22(1):97–107
  15. Paakkari L, Kokko S, Villberg J, Paakkari O, Tynjälä J. Health literacy and participation in sports club activities among adolescents. Scand J Public Health. 2017 Dec;45(8):854–60
  16. Ghanbari S, Ramezankhani A, Montazeri A, Mehrabi Y. Health literacy measure for adolescents (HELMA): Development and psychometric properties. PLoS One. 2016 Feb;11(2)
  17. Guo S, Davis E, Yu X, Naccarella L, Armstrong R, Abel T, et al. Measuring functional, interactive and critical health literacy of Chinese secondary school students: reliable, valid and feasible? Glob Health Promot. 2018 Dec;25(4):6–14
  18. Sukys S, Trinkuniene L, Tilindiene I. Subjective health literacy among school-aged children: First evidence from Lithuania. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Sep;16(18)
  19. Sukys S, Trinkuniene L, Tilindiene I. Subjective Health Literacy among School-Aged Children: First Evidence from Lithuania. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Sep;16(18)
  20. Manganello JA. Health literacy and adolescents: A framework and agenda for future research. Health Educ Res. 2008;23(5):840–7

Last update:

  1. Comparison of Health Literacy Assessment Tools among Beijing School-Aged Children

    Shuaijun Guo, Xiaoming Yu, Elise Davis, Rebecca Armstrong, Lucio Naccarella. Children, 9 (8), 2022. doi: 10.3390/children9081128

Last update: 2024-11-20 02:51:48

No citation recorded.