Abstract
BACKGROUND: In recent years, parents have had more opportunities to use applications (apps) to access health care information. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the use of an app that provides health care information on children improves parents' health literacy. METHODS: This open-label, nonrandomized, parallel-controlled trial was conducted at two health centers in Japan. We recruited parents of 1.5-year-old children and introduced the Oshiete! Doctor app to the intervention group. The primary outcome was a change in the parents' health literacy scores (HLSs). KEY RESULTS: A total of 200 parents were included in this study. The mean HLSs slightly improved in both groups, with greater improvement observed in the intervention group than in the control group. However, the difference was not statistically significant. In the intervention group, participants with higher app ratings showed greater improvement in their HLSs after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of an app that provides health care information on children did not show a statistically significant improvement in parents' health literacy. In the intervention group, participants with higher app ratings showed greater improvement in their HLSs after the intervention. Future research on apps and parental health literacy should also consider the frequency of app use. Larger, longer-term studies are needed. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2025;9(2):e64-e71.].