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 j181rdC24768; Mon, 7 Feb 2005 20:53:39 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 20:53:39 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <p06100503be2dcba26781@[192.168.1.100]> 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: Andrew Pleasant <afp5@cornell.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4640] Re: Firstfind.info resources on the web? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Status: O Content-Length: 7370 Lines: 238 Seems to be working well on my system. Andrew Pleasant Assistant Professor Rutgers University >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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