Hospital social workers' contributions to increasing health literacy among parents of acutely and critically ill children. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mannsåker, Ida Krag-Rønne; Vågan, André; Geirdal, Amy Østertun; Stenberg, Una
• Is Part Of: European journal of social work. Volume 26:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Hospital social work -- health literacy -- parental needs -- paediatric -- acute; Sosialt arbeid på sykehus -- helsekompetanse -- foreldrebehov -- pediatri -- akutt; Social service -- Europe -- Periodicals; Social service -- Vocational guidance -- Europe -- Periodicals; 361.3209405
• DOI: 10.1080/13691457.2021.2016645
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-1457

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hospital social workers often engage in health literacy activities to support patients' and families' functioning and adjustment to illness, but social work literature has seldom used health literacy terminology. This paper reports on a qualitative study of paediatric hospital social workers' understanding of the needs of parents with acutely ill children and how their contributions may accommodate these needs to strengthen parental health literacy. Utilising systematic text condensation, the study reveals four themes: (1) understanding of medical information, (2) counselling and service coordination, (3) emotional needs, and (4) timing of information. The findings suggest that hospital social workers make valuable additions to health literacy.