Health Literacy and Effective Health Communication in Pediatric Practices and Health Systems: Creating Shame-Free Environments and Patient-Friendly Institutions

Shame has been defined as a “painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety.”1 Several researchers have characterized patients with low literacy as being unwilling to disclose their problems to healthcare providers because of their shame.2,3 Contributing to this feeling of inadequacy is the reading level of most patient materials. Wilson examined 35 unique patient educational materials produced by professional sources (government agencies, drug companies, and state/national organizations) or by providers.4 Professionally developed materials had significantly higher reading levels and were more difficult to read, but all materials were written at a reading level higher than most adults can comprehend.4