[NIFL-HEALTH:1021] Re: Literacy and Wellness: Making the Connection

From: Richard Craig Lockert (rcl127@mail.usask.ca)
Date: Thu Jul 02 1998 - 15:25:17 EDT


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From: Richard Craig Lockert <rcl127@mail.usask.ca>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:1021] Re: Literacy and Wellness: Making the Connection
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Dear Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES

Thanks for forwarding the information. It will prove very helpful.
I have applied for the password that you mentioned.

Richard Lockert, Project Assistant
Literacy and Health in Saskatchewan Project
Saskatchewan Literacy Network
206-220 3rd Avenue South
Saskatoon, SK  S7K 1M1
Phone: 306-653-7368
Fax: 306-653-1704
E-Mail: rcl127@mail.usask.ca
or	sklit@sk.sympatico.ca

Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES wrote:
> 
> Richard:
> 
> The following will be useful in your work on literacy and wellness.
> 
> I recently did a study on mothers' satisfaction with information
> giving during pregnancy and prenatal care. Pregnancy related health
> information written at fifth grade reading level was distributed by
> four health plans in a series of mailings throughout pregnancy  to
> mothers at home to supplement counseling in prenatal care. Our survey
> sample was 80% college educated, 75% "experienced mothers".  The
> mothers reported extreme satisfaction with the information and
> recalled certain key messages that are linked to birth outcomes at
> significantly higher levels than the comparison group who did not
> receive the supplemental information. This confirms previous research
> findings that college educated readers prefer simply written
> information and illustrates that improving the quality of materials
> for low literacy readers improves the quality for everyone. In health
> care, where costs are a serious concern, it is  important to note that
> it is not necessary to produce materials at various reading levels.
> 
> The study is reported in poster fashion with links to abstracts of
> citations and related information at
> http://www.PrenatalEd.com/poster1.htm.
> 
> You will find addition information of interest to your project on
> PrenatalEd.com site.
> Particulary, see http://www.PrenatalEd.com/bibsig.htm for a literature
> reveiw summary on the significance of information giving to health and
> satisfaction. Additional bibs and lit reviews in this section may also
> be of interest.  Also, in the Evaluating Materials section, see the
> Reviewer's Guide and Checklist for a quick way to check the fit
> between health information materials and the learners who will use it:
> http://www.PrenatalEd.com/story7.htm
> 
> The study will be published tomorrow - July 1 - in the International
> Electronic Journal of Health Education on line at
> http://131.230.221.136/iejhe. The Journal requires a password - you
> get one FREE when you register.
> 
> Good luck with your project. I hope you find this helpful. Keep me
> posted on your progress. SS
> 
> 
> 
> Richard Craig Lockert wrote:
> 
> > To:     Members of the List
> >
> > Hello!
> >
> > My name is Richard Lockert, and I have been on the list for a short
> > time. I am conducting research on behalf of the Saskatchewan
> > Literacy
> > Network (SLN). The SLN is currently developing an information kit on
> > the
> > theme of "Literacy and Wellness: Making the Connection." These kits
> > will
> > highlight (amongst other things) the relationships between literacy
> > levels and health service usage in each District Health Board in
> > Saskatchewan, Canada. My research will provide some of the content
> > for
> > these information packages, which are designed to increase health
> > practitioners' awareness of health literacy issues.
> >
> > I WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR SOME INPUT!
> >
> > There are innumerable sources of information on the subject of the
> > direct and indirect effects of lower literacy on health status, but
> > I
> > would appreciate some "live" feedback from the experts and
> > practioners
> > on this list.
> >
> > If possible, I would like to quote some of your comments in my
> > report
> > and ultimately in the information package. Such content will provide
> >
> > immediacy to the information given.
> >
> > I have only a few questions, some of which are quite general:
> >
> > (1) In general, how aware are health service providers of health
> > literacy issues?
> >
> > (2) What are the reasons they may not be?
> >
> > (3) What is your definition of health literacy? What does health
> > literacy involve?
> >
> > (4) Although persons with lower literacy use many techniques to mask
> >
> > their difficulties, what are some clues (behaviours, etc) that may
> > lead
> > a health provider to suspect literacy difficulties?
> >
> > (5) Can you relate some real-life anecdotes involving patients' or
> > health care providers' experiences relating to the effect of low
> > literacy on the receipt (or provision) of health services?
> >
> > (6) Can you offer recommendations on how health districts/boards can
> >
> > work with literacy groups to improve the literacy skills of the
> > people
> > they serve?
> >
> > (7) Finally, what TOPICS should such an informatin kit cover? What
> > ITEMS
> > should it include? (It will be print only at this stage). What type
> > of
> > LAYOUT or DESIGN FORMAT is most suitable to allow busy health
> > providers
> > to absorb the most information as possible?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for your contribution to this project. Please
> > indicate
> > in your reply if you may be quoted! If so, please also include
> > information about your position and/or organizational affiliation.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Richard Lockert, Project Assistant
> > Literacy and Health in Saskatchewan Project
> >
> > Saskatchewan Literacy Network
> > 206-220 3rd Avenue South
> > Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
> > CANADA  S7K 1M1
> > Phone: 306-653-7368
> > Fax: 306-653-1704
> > E-Mail: rcl127@mail.usask.ca
> > or      sklit@sk.sympatico.ca
> 
> 
> 
>   Sandra Smith, MPH CHES <sandras@u.washington.edu>
>   http://www.PrenatalEd.com
>   UW Center for Health Education & Research
> 
>   Sandra Smith, MPH CHES
>   http://www.PrenatalEd.com           <sandras@u.washington.edu>
>   UW Center for Health Education &
>   Research
>   901 Boren Ave Suite 1100            Work: 206-441-7046
>   Seattle                             Fax: 206-728-1926
>   WA                                  Netscape Conference Address
>   98104-3508                          Netscape Conference DLS Server
>   Additional Information:
>   Last Name Smith, MPH CHES
>   First NameSandra
>   Version   2.1



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