We at the IAAH education committee are always seeking resources with both broad appeal and targeted information. This is the first of a series of “spotlights” showing what is being done for adolescent health. Please consider the following resource from the University of Melbourne.
Note: This spotlight is provided for informational purposes only. The IAAH education committee does not endorse specific resources but aims to share noteworthy developments in adolescent health education.
The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia (RCH) has developed a new suite of resources in a facilitated partnership between young people and the hospital’s Department of Adolescent Medicine.
Young people continue to seek health information online, but what they find isn’t always factual. To counter the noise of mis- and disinformation, these resources deliver health information young people can trust.
The Teen Health Info fact sheets draw inspiration from the popular Kids Health Info fact sheets, but the new suite is written directly for young people. From topic selection through to promotion, the RCH’s Health Literacy Youth Advisory Committee has guided the creation of these exciting new resources. This group of 14 incredible young people have reviewed and advised on the content to make sure it truly speaks to a youth audience.
The fact sheets are available free online and can be printed for use in clinical care.
What topics are covered?
Teen Health Info fact sheets break down complex medical concepts into accessible language and use examples that connect with teens’ everyday lives. They cover the topics young people said matter most to them – from skin health and STIs to mental wellbeing and tips on finding health information you can trust.
Supporting parents and caregivers
Parents often need extra information to help them understand what their young person is going through. That's why each topic has an accompanying Kids Health Info fact sheet written for parents. The Kids Health Info versions cover the same concepts in a little more depth, with information about how parents and caregivers can best support and empower the young people in their lives.
Meeting young people in the online spaces they frequent
To ensure the health information meets young people where they are, the RCH has also launched a youth-led social media account called Infectious Info. With content conceived, developed and produced by young people and backed by clinicians at the hospital, the account aims to counter online health misinformation for a teen audience.
It’s designed to be fun, informative, and adolescent-friendly, helping young people stay in the know and feel confident about their health choices.
The Health Literacy project is funded by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation with support from the Good Friday Appeal.