Supporting Health Literacy in Youth: An Insight from Academics and Practitioners
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Health literacy is a critical determinant of health, closely linked to behaviours, outcomes, and broader social determinants. Given that young people navigate distinct social contexts and health-related challenges compared to adults, understanding how to support their health literacy development during this important period is essential for lifelong wellbeing. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of academics and community-based practitioners regarding the concept of health literacy in young people and the importance of supporting its development. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 participants (academics n = 17, health and wellbeing practitioners n = 9, policy/research n = 4) based across Europe and Australasia, with experience in youth health literacy. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three key themes were identified: (i) Building lifelong health agency: From early foundations to transitional autonomy; (ii) Navigating novel health changes; and (iii) Structural inequities and intergenerational barriers in health literacy. Conclusions: Participants emphasised that youth health literacy interventions should move beyond didactic, individual-level information delivery toward fostering critical digital competencies and addressing structural barriers through participatory co-design with young people.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tobacco and COPD: presenting the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Knowledge Summary
- Comparative effects of e-cigarette smoking on periodontal status, salivary pH, and cotinine levels
- Association between exposure to environmental pollutants and increased oral health risks, a comprehensive review
- Influence of gestational window on offspring vascular health in rodents with in utero exposure to electronic cigarettes
- Natural products as kinase inhibitors in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and clinical trials
- Nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.