Abstract: PUB320
PediaBright: Children's Book Series to Improve Health Literacy in Pediatric CKD
Session Information
Category: Pediatric Nephrology
- 1900 Pediatric Nephrology
Authors
- Cheema, Nawal G, University of Missouri System, Columbia, Missouri, United States
- Nagarapu, Aakash, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Group or Team Name
- PediaBright.
Background
Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently experience emotional distress and confusion as a result of limited knowledge about their condition. Communication barriers among children, caregivers, and providers limit effective disease management and can decrease treatment adherence. Despite existing clinical resources, few tools break down complicated nephrology terms into child-appropriate language. PediaBright addresses this gap with a three-volume illustrated book series designed to enhance health literacy, emotional resilience, and self-efficacy in children with CKD.
Methods
PediaBright's CKD trilogy was developed jointly by a multidisciplinary team of students in collaboration with pediatric nephrologists and educators. The series follows a six-year-old boy named Andrew, learning about kidney anatomy, visiting specialists, and adapting at home and at school. Medical facts were condensed from peer-reviewed sources and translated into story form, with clinical peer review to ensure accuracy. Feedback was given repeatedly by physicians and child literacy experts.
Results
The CKD series includes:
What Are My Kidneys?: introduces basic nephrology concepts through metaphors describing filtration and nephron function.
Going to the Doctor: introduces clinical practice habits (lab, urinalysis, blood draws) and roles of nurses, pediatricians, nephrologists, and phlebotomists.
Super Sleuthing Kidney Clues: involves children in caring for their health (diet, hydration, energy) and learns about customized treatment.
Books were piloted with physicians and in local charities. Industry connections at Children’s Mercy in KC have found the books well-received by patients in outpatient settings and especially helpful for patients with siblings.
Conclusion
PediaBright presents an interprofessional, scalable model of pediatric health communication. By the integration of clinical accuracy, storytelling, and age-level imagery, the CKD series equips children with the needed knowledge to understand and self-manage their disease. Future programs will assess the impact through systematic health literacy testing and explore adaptation to other pediatric chronic illnesses.