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 h5Q3vgC27757; Wed, 25 Jun 2003 23:57:42 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 23:57:42 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20030625234846.036d3e00@mail.med.upenn.edu> 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: Ian Bennett <ibennett@mail.med.upenn.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4026] Re: QUESTIONS THAT REVEAL LITERACY X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Status: O Content-Length: 5960 Lines: 153 I have to agree with this approach. As a physician working with patients who may or may not have low literacy skill I tend to think that nearly everyone has difficulty navigating the health care system and everyone will benefit from efforts to make the health system more health literacy accessible. This seems a better use of resources than trying to identify patients in the clinical setting for special attention (what would that attention be anyway?). The well documented issues of shame and trust would be too big a stumbling block. Ian Bennett At 08:28 PM 6/25/2003 -0400, Audrey Riffenburgh wrote: >Greetings: > >This is a very interesting thread of discussion. I understand how >medical professionals would want to know the literacy levels of their >patients but I think it's a tough goal to achieve. > >I have a reading background and worked in adult literacy at the local, >state, and national level for almost a decade before moving into health >literacy. I have spoken with many adult literacy students about their >experiences in medical settings. They have taught me that people who >have limited literacy skills are often very reluctant to talk about it, >in any setting. > >If we set up situations that "force" them to admit they can't read >something or that they need help, or someone is watching to see if they >stumble and then intervenes, it may alienate them tremendously. Instead, >I advocate that medical professionals change their processes to be >inclusive of everyone. Since we know that about half of US adults read >at or below 8th grade level, doesn't it make sense to adjust the systems >we use to meet the needs of that half instead of trying to figure out >who they are? The doctor's office Lisa wrote about is a great example. >They learned that having patients fill out forms didn't give them >accurate health information, so they changed their way of doing things >to address the challenge. This is a great strategy! > >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 > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Lisa Schmalzried" <ccread@alltel.net> >To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> >Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 12:43 PM >Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4024] RE: QUESTIONS THAT REVEAL LITERACY > > > > To elaborate a little bit, this doctor's office does everything >orally. > > They ask the patients questions and as the patient answers the office >person > > inputs it into the computer. They used to ask patients to fill out >forms, > > but no longer do so. Thank you to everyone responding to my question. >I > > appreciate the tips I'm getting. Lisa > > > > Linda Flores wrote: > > > > > Lisa, > > > > > > In my experience patients usually let you know > > > what their literacy skills are. However, > > > one good question could be to ask them to read/ > > > fill out paperwork and if they will need help from someone > > > when doing so. > > > > > > Linda G. Flores > > > Assistant Regional Coordinator > > > > > > Women's Health Network/ > > > VNA Care Network > > > 888-663-3688 X-4723 > > > 781-455-6661 > > > lflores@vnacarenetwork.org > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Lisa Schmalzried [mailto:ccread@alltel.net] > > > Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 10:02 AM > > > To: Multiple recipients of list > > > Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4021] QUESTIONS THAT REVEAL LITERACY > > > > > > Hello, > > > > > > I am the director of a literacy council in Meadville PA, and am >working > > > with a physician's group to > > > come up with a list of questions that could be asked at patient >intake > > > that would reveal their > > > literacy needs. I was wondering if anyone has done this already >with > > > success and if you'd be willing > > > to share. WE are engaging a local pharmacist also to help with > > > simplifiying medicine labels. > > > > > > My thoughts are that with a good rapport, adults having literacy >needs > > > would indicate that when > > > asked. Others might respond that they have no trouble with literacy >and > > > you won't find out until > > > much later. Thanks for your help in this. If I didn't explain it > > > properly, I'll try again. > > > > > > Lisa Schmalzried > > > >************************************************************************ > > > ******************* > > > This message and any included attachments are from the VNA Care >Network > > > Foundation and > > > Subsidiaries and are intended only for the addressee(s). The >information > > > contained herein > > > may include trade secrets or privileged or otherwise confidential > > > information. Unauthorized > > > review, forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, or using such > > > information is strictly > > > prohibited and may be unlawful. Internet communications cannot be > > > guaranteed to be secure > > > or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, > > > destroyed, arrive late > > > or incomplete, or contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept > > > responsibility for any errors > > > or omissions that are present in this message, or any attachment, >that > > > have arisen as a result > > > of e-mail transmission. If verification is required, please request >a > > > hard-copy version. Any > > > views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author >and do > > > not necessarily represent > > > those of the company. If you received this message in error, or have > > > reason to believe you are not > > > authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and >notify > > > the sender by e-mail > > > with a copy to pkosel@vnacarenetwork.org. Thank You. > > > > > >
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