Other Titles

Rising Star Poster/Presentation

Abstract

Health literacy is the ability to use basic skills that impact effective healthcare1. Childhood immunizations have dramatically reduced morbidity annually2. However, with recent anti-immunization propaganda, misinformation results in reduced immunization rates, especially in low literacy populations. The National Immunization Survey found that nearly all childhood immunization coverage is reduced in children born in 2020-2021 than in their peers born in 2018-2019, especially among Latino youth compared to their white counterparts3. Researchers concluded that vaccine rates improved with higher health literacy rates, suggesting an understanding of provided material is crucial in helping adults perform informed healthcare decisions4. The primary audience for this study is an adult population with low health literacy that are members of underserved and/or immigrant communities. To address these disparities, the researcher will investigate the best approach to design and develop a poster in English and Spanish, serving as a tool to support them in making informed decisions about childhood immunizations.

Notes

References:

1. Shahid, R., Shoker, M., Chu, L. M., Frehlick, R., Ward, H., & Pahwa, P. (2022). Impact of low health literacy on patients’ health outcomes: A multicenter cohort study. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08527-9

2. Talbird, S. E., Carrico, J., La, E. M., Carias, C., Marshall, G. S., Roberts, C. S., Chen, Y.-T., & Nyaku, M. K. (2022). Impact of routine childhood immunization in reducing vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Pediatrics, 150(3). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-056013

3. Hill, H. A., Yankey, D., Elam-Evans, L. D., Mu, Y., Chen, M., Peacock, G., & Singleton, J. A. (2024). Decline in vaccination coverage by age 24 months and vaccination inequities among children born in 2020 and 2021 — National immunization survey-child, United States, 2021–2023. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73(38), 844–853. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7338a3

4. Lucero, D., Moreno, V. A., Delgado, D., Nieto, A. H., Rodriguez-Cruz, N., Le, Q., & Lindsay, A. C. (2025). Understanding HPV vaccine initiation and intention among Central American immigrant parents in the United States: The role of vaccine literacy and healthcare provider recommendations. Vaccines, 13(2), 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13020130

Description

Health literacy is the ability to apply basic skills to support personal healthcare1. Childhood immunizations have dramatically reduced morbidity2. Misinformation has contributed to declining vaccination, particularly in low health literacy populations. The data indicate decreased immunization rates among children born in 2020–2021, with Latino children exhibiting lower rates than white peers3. This study will investigate a culturally appropriate poster design to address these disparities.

Author Details

Mary Catherine Mantler, Senior BSN Student, Alpha Gamma Intern; Myra Sternlieb, MSN, BSN

Sigma Membership

Alpha Gamma

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Evidence-Based Nursing Implementation, Health Literacy, Community Health, Childhood Immunization, Vaccine Uptake, Underserved Communities, Underserved Populations

Conference Name

48th Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Invited Presentation

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2025-12-10

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To Educate Low Health Literacy Populations on the Best Practices Related to Childhood Immunizations

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Health literacy is the ability to use basic skills that impact effective healthcare1. Childhood immunizations have dramatically reduced morbidity annually2. However, with recent anti-immunization propaganda, misinformation results in reduced immunization rates, especially in low literacy populations. The National Immunization Survey found that nearly all childhood immunization coverage is reduced in children born in 2020-2021 than in their peers born in 2018-2019, especially among Latino youth compared to their white counterparts3. Researchers concluded that vaccine rates improved with higher health literacy rates, suggesting an understanding of provided material is crucial in helping adults perform informed healthcare decisions4. The primary audience for this study is an adult population with low health literacy that are members of underserved and/or immigrant communities. To address these disparities, the researcher will investigate the best approach to design and develop a poster in English and Spanish, serving as a tool to support them in making informed decisions about childhood immunizations.