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 j162KVC04116; Sat, 5 Feb 2005 21:20:31 -0500 (EST) Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 21:20:31 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <20050206021432.34588.qmail@web30205.mail.mud.yahoo.com> 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: Bruce Carmel <bcarmel@rocketmail.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4633] Re: "Easy-to-read" resources on the web X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Status: O Content-Length: 5848 Lines: 205 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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