Health Literacy—Talking the Language of (School) Education

• Main Authors: Leena Paakkari, Orkan Okan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SLACK Incorporated 2019-07-01
• Series: Health Literacy Research and Practice
• Subjects: health literacy; education
• Online Access: https://www.healio.com/public-health/journals/hlrp/2019-7-3-3/%7Bdcaa048e-2943-46ce-9e69-49390fdbabb7%7D/health-literacytalking-the-language-of-school-education

The links between school education and health have been of interest to researchers for several decades, and health literacy in particular has been associated with the health-promoting school approach for almost 20 years (St Leger, 2001; St Leger & Nutbeam, 2000). From an educational perspective, this is not surprising because there is little doubt that health literacy is a competence that contributes to health skill development and can be facilitated through educational practices. Although health-related skill development has been a core pillar of health promotion since the Ottawa Charter (Nutbeam, 1998), few countries have included health literacy as a theoretical framework within their school health curriculum (e.g., Australia [Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2012], Finland (Finnish National Board of Education, 2014], and the United States [Joint Committee on Health Education Standards, 1995]), and even fewer have made the subject obligatory. As a result, few countries offer teacher training in relation to health literacy. This lack of training puts pupils as well as teachers in an unfavorable position because teachers are not equipped with health literacy teaching methods so pupils cannot be adequately supplied with health literacy skills.