If there is low literacy then the ability to properly take vital medications efficiently is low as well. This could eventually impact an individual's overall health. Peterson et al. (2011) examine health literacy as it correlates to rehospitalization in patients that have had heart failure. It is discovered that through three brief screening questions, "low health literacy...is associated with higher mortality" (Peterson,2011,1700). There is a correlation between health literacy and hospitalization as well as emergency use. If the individual is a low literacy risk then their ability to determine if a health concern, for the individual or their child, is a true emergency or could be handled in their home may be difficult. According to the CDC (2012), approximately 18% of emergency visits were that of children 18 and younger. With the proper educational tools provided, this percentile has the ability to …show more content…
Cook created a book entitled " What to Do When Your Child Gets Sick" to help parents determine between true emergencies and the ones that could be handled at home. Cook reported a 40% increase in correct responses from pre-to post-test (Cook, 2013). Intervention method such as brochures has also been put into action. Davis et al. (1996) created brochure that was written at the 6th grade level, discussed that Polio Vaccine and was effective in comprehension (Dewalt, 2009). Classes and camps are also intervention taken in the past. Robinson et al (2008) held a two-hour literacy and asthma education class for asthmatic children and reported a drop from 63% to 33% in ER and hospitalization visits (Dewalt, 2009). Yin et al. (2008) took a different intervention approach. Yin et al. (2008) uses pictogram based instruction and teach back counseling to help parents give the proper dosage of liquid medication to their children (Dewalt, 2009). This approach showed improvement in medication preparation, use of standardized dosing instruments and fewer errors in dosing frequencies (Dewalt, 2009). Interventions bring a different approach to teaching as well as impact health