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 h8PG8BV24134; Thu, 25 Sep 2003 12:08:11 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2003 12:08:11 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <066c01c3837e$a50bae70$2156e18d@ghostnurs> 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: "Carolyn Speros" <csperos@memphis.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4159] RE: "Health literacy" out X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 5894 Lines: 150 I am not familiar with the instrument that you speak of...the new NAAL. I would appreciate hearing more about it, and if it is a measure of word recognition (similar to the REALM) or comprehension (like the TOFHLA). Thanks so much. Dr. Carolyn Speros ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ian Bennett" <ibennett@mail.med.upenn.edu> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 9:03 AM Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4158] RE: "Health literacy" out > I think so. > I don't think the REALM, just because it uses "health" words is > necessarily measuring a different domain than literacy measures. I think > the WRAT-R and SORT correlations are consistent with that. Health > literacy is a multi-domain concept that usually includes reading ability > (depending on who is defining it) along with health-navigation, > physician-patient communication, and others. The 20 minute TOFHLA was > designed to get at some more of this but not all and it also was > "validated" against the literacy instruments. The new NAAL apparently > attempts to get at this more and it may become the new gold standard > that we will be able to use to measure this construct. > > Ian M. Bennett, M.D., Ph.D. > Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine > University of Pennsylvania > > > -----Original Message----- > From: nifl-health@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-health@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of > shalini.forbis@wright.edu > Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 10:24 AM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4152] RE: "Health literacy" out > > This is an interesting discussion. > > I have always assumed that there is a strong correlation between health > literacy and literacy. this is based on the fact that the REALM has > been > shown to strongly correlate (0.8 or higher) with other tests of reading > ability, such as the WRAT-R or the SORT. Is this a correct assumption? > > Sincerely, Shalini > > > > > >===== Original Message From nifl-health@nifl.gov ===== > >Hiya Audrey, > >Points well taken. > >I do think we should be clear though that I am not aware of any > evidence > >that an adult with good reading skills (as measured by literacy > instruments > >including the REALM and TOFHLA) but have some difficulties with issues > in > >the health literacy domains have negative health outcomes or cost the > >health system anything (maybe it does but we just don't have any data > on > >this). When we talk about the data that health literacy and health > outcomes > >are linked we are actually talking about literacy and health outcomes. > >That is not to say that we should get doctors to speak more clearly, we > >should, and it will benefit everyone. > >Ian > > > >Greetings, Ian and other "listers": > > > >I read your post about the term "clear health communication" with > >interest. I attended the Pfizer Health Literacy conference in DC last > week, > >too, and, personally, I was glad to see the new term in use. My > colleagues > >in the Clear Language Group and I have been working with Pfizer on its > >health literacy initiative since its inception 6 or 7 years ago. We > have > >talked quite a bit with Pfizer about our concerns that the focus on > people > >with low literacy skills was too narrow. I am glad to see the new term > >coming into wider use. > > > >I came into my health literacy work from the adult literacy field (I've > >worked at the local, state and national level). I am VERY aware of the > huge > >challenges these people face and I don't want to dilute the attention > given > >to them. At the same time, I felt that framing the problem as mainly a > >"literacy" issue rather than a lack of plain language usage by health > care > >professionals was problematic. I always felt that focusing on people > with > >limited overall literacy skills put the responsibility for lack of > >communication at their feet. It laid too much blame on them, especially > >when we talked about how much low HEALTH literacy costs the medical > system. > >Instead we need to put more of the responsibility for communication on > to > >health care providers. I also think that if we are talking to health > care > >providers about 20% of US adults, it's harder to get their attention. > They > >can more easily dismiss the information by saying, "I don't have any of > >those people in my practice." Whereas framing the issue in a larger > context > >can help those providers understand the serious scope of the problem. > > > >I think we must continue to speak out about the challenges people with > low > >overall literacy face, the impact of low literacy skills on their > health, > >etc. I don't believe they will get lost in the transition. I think > >widening the focus may even help them more than the current view. I > like > >reframing the issue in the new way because it helps health care > providers > >and people who develop print materials understand the responsibility > which > >is rightly theirs in the communication process. It' s not just about > people > >who struggle to read. It's about how difficult it is for ALL of us to > >understand and use health information when it's presented in such a way > >that the general public can't make sense of it. > > > >I look forward to hearing others' perspectives on this issue. > > > >Audrey Riffenburgh, M.A. > >President, Riffenburgh & Associates > >P.O. Box 6670, Albuquerque, NM 87197-6670 > >Phone: (505) 345-1107 Fax: (505) 345-1104 > >E-mail: ar@plainlanguageworks.com > >Specialists in Plain Language & Health Literacy since 1994 > >============================================= > >Principal & Founding Member, The Clear Language Group > www.clearlanguagegroup.com > > Shalini Forbis, MD > Assistant Professor, > General and Community Pediatrics > > One Children's Plaza > Dayton OH 45404-1815 > (937)641-3277 > shalini.forbis@wright.edu > >
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