Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j181amC24437; Mon, 7 Feb 2005 20:36:48 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 20:36:48 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <016701c50d7e$33c1dab0$2d8e2344@D5NPYT31> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Audrey Riffenburgh" <ar@plainlanguageworks.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4639] Re: Firstfind.info resources on the web? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 6876 Lines: 232 Greetings, again, Bruce Carmel told us about a resource called firstfind.info which I am eager to see but we can't get the site to work. Has anyone else tried? The only item in the menu that worked today or on Saturday is the Local Resources. Can anyone fill us in on what's up? Audrey Riffenburgh, M.A. President, Riffenburgh & Associates P.O. Box 6670, Albuquerque, NM 87197 Phone: (505) 345-1107 Fax: (505) 345-1104 E-mail: ar@plainlanguageworks.com Specialists in Plain Language and Health Literacy since 1994 and Principal & Founding Member, The Clear Language Group www.clearlanguagegroup.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Carmel" <bcarmel@rocketmail.com> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 7:18 PM Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4633] Re: "Easy-to-read" resources on the web > firstfind.info is probably worth a look for anyone > looking for > "easy-to-read" web info. It's a library of > non-commercial web sites selected by librarians. David > Rosen, Susan Cowles, Maura Donnelly, Robin Osborne, > and I helped train them to use more than grade level > as a selection criterion. In fact we did not use grade > level, but were more holistic. > Bruce Carmel > http://firstfind.info > > > --- Audrey Riffenburgh <ar@plainlanguageworks.com> > wrote: > >> Greetings, all, >> >> >> >> In my ten years working in health literacy, I have >> seen a huge increase in >> materials on the web which are labeled as easy. >> There are SOME easy-to-read >> health resources on the web but many of the >> materials labeled as >> easy-to-read are still far too difficult for most of >> the general public. As >> you probably know, the average U.S. adult reads at >> about 8th "grade" level. >> Much of the material on the web that is labeled >> "easy" or "plain language" >> is written at much higher levels. (There are >> inherent problems in using >> grade levels to label adult readers but this gives >> you a general idea of the >> level of functioning vs. the literacy demands of >> printed materials.) >> >> >> >> I recently analyzed the reading level of seven >> materials on, or linked to, >> MedlinePlus' "Easy-to-Read" area. The average >> reading level was 11 and the >> range was from 8 to 16. The results were similar for >> the FDA's website where >> they offer "easy" resources. >> >> >> >> The problem is in defining "easy." What is easy to >> an average or lower >> skilled reader is entirely different from what is >> easy for those doing the >> labeling. So I suggest great caution in using >> materials labeled this way. >> They may not achieve what you are hoping for or >> assuming they will achieve. >> >> >> >> Plus, keep in mind that there are dozens of factors >> beyond reading level >> that affect a document's appropriateness. These >> include organization, amount >> of information, whether the information is what the >> reader is looking for, >> approach, tone, design, layout, cultural >> appropriateness, and more. So even >> if the reading level is at 7th or 8th "grade" level, >> you cannot >> automatically assume the piece is going to work for >> the general public or >> readers with limited literacy skills. >> >> >> >> Yours for better health in the U.S., >> >> >> >> Audrey Riffenburgh, M.A. >> President, Riffenburgh & Associates >> P.O. Box 6670, Albuquerque, NM 87197 >> Phone: (505) 345-1107 Fax: (505) 345-1104 >> E-mail: ar@plainlanguageworks.com >> Specialists in Plain Language and Health Literacy >> since 1994 >> and >> Principal & Founding Member, The Clear Language >> Group >> www.clearlanguagegroup.com >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Elizabeth Horvath" <Mhrsemh@omh.state.ny.us> >> To: "Multiple recipients of list" >> <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> >> Sent: Friday, February 04, 2005 8:52 AM >> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4629] Re: Patient resources >> for phone >> >> >> > One place to start might be MedlinePlus, they have >> a topic called Talking >> > with your Doctor: >> > >> > >> > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/talkingwithyourdoctor.html >> > >> > I did not review the materials listed there for >> reading level, but you can >> > check the links and see if they have easy-to-read >> materials on the >> > individual websites. >> > >> > If you don't currently use MedlinePlus, do some >> exploring. If you click on >> > "health topics, there will be a button that takes >> you to "Easy to Read," >> > and you can check out the easy materials by topic. >> Unfortunately, "Talking >> > with your Doctor" is not among to choices. >> > >> > Beti >> >>>> mburton@nmdp.org 02/03/05 02:37PM >>> >> > Hi all - >> > >> > I am having a difficult time locating general >> information that helps >> > patients advocate for themselves over the phone. >> Getting the resource >> > information to patients is the relatively easy >> part. It's getting them >> > to actually *call* and connect with the suggested >> resource that is the >> > real challenge. >> > >> > I've found lots and lots of stuff to help >> healthcare providers >> > communicate with their patients over the phone, >> but nothing to help >> > patients communicate with their providers. I do >> have a material that >> > lists specific questions for patients to ask their >> health insurance to >> > determine their coverage limits and what they need >> to write down, but it >> > isn't generalizable to a broader context. >> > >> > Does anyone have something that could essentially >> "coach" patients with >> > how to make an effective phone call to a >> resource/organization and how >> > to document that conversation? Maybe something >> similar to the "AskMe3" >> > brochure? >> > >> > Thanks, >> > >> > Martha Burton Santibanez >> > Outreach Specialist, Office of Patient Advocacy >> > National Marow Donor Program >> > www.marrow.org >> > 1 (888) 999-6743 x8336 >> > 1 (612) 627-8195 fax >> > >> > Beti Horvath, MLS >> > Library Services >> > Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center >> > New Hampton NY 10958 >> > mhrsemh@omh.state.ny.us >> > 845-374-3171x3625 >> > Fax 845-374-3171x4625 >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for >> the use of the intended >> > recipient. It may contain confidential >> information which is legally >> > privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you >> received this e-mail >> > in error or from someone who was not authorized to >> send it to you, you >> > are strictly prohibited from reviewing, using, >> disseminating, >> > distributing or copying the e-mail. PLEASE NOTIFY >> US IMMEDIATELY OF THE >> > ERROR BY RETURN E-MAIL AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE >> FROM YOUR SYSTEM. Thank >> > you for your cooperation. >> > >> >> >> > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo >
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