Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id UAA08131; Mon, 28 Feb 2000 20:32:28 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 20:32:28 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <01BF8215.3D2DD080.sandras@u.washington.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: Sandra Smith <sandras@u.washington.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:2244] Re: It's a plain language issue X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 Status: OR Well said Audrey. SS -----Original Message----- From: Plnenglish@aol.com [SMTP:Plnenglish@aol.com] Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 5:23 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:2243] Re: It's a plain language issue Dear NIFL-Health listers: I'm responding to a theme in 3 recent messages from which I've excerpted below: 1) <<The stories we tell are a great hook to get people interested in this issue and then we go on to talk about clear verbal communications and the use of plain language materials as back up. Beth Poore-Bowman, RN, FNP>> 2) << We must also look at ourselves and our communications. The sender is responsible for the message. Sandra Smith (I think.)>> 3) <<What an interesting idea. Thanks for reminding us all that this is indeed a two way process. How often we cite the impact of a patient/client's problem without taking the responsibility for what professionals contribute to the situation. Debbie Yoho>> I think all three of you have touched on a critical piece of patient education and materials development. Many of us already think about both "sides of the coin" in achieving true communication with print materials -- the reader and the writer. Indeed this is a two-way process. But so often the gap is framed in a way that refers mainly to the people who have not had the opportunity to learn to read well. Two things come to mind here. First, the gap between the literacy demands of print materials in health care and the literacy abilities of the public affects millions more US adults than just those with limited literacy skills. Study after study shows that the majority of health care materials are written at high school or college level. The 1990 Census reported that only 20% of the population reads at college level. Take into account the mental, physical and emotional state people are often in when they encounter our health care system and that 20% will be even smaller. So our field of "health literacy" is really about much more than getting health information to those folks who struggle with the printed word. It's about the challenge in reaching 70-80% of the public with effective information when we use print. Second, I think it's critical for us to see our work in health literacy in a broader framework--as part of the plain language movement. There is an international movement to bring all kinds of consumer information to the public in clear, easy-to-understand printed materials. There are probably 50-100 people around the world who consider themselves plain language specialists. We spend our professional lives educating people, organizations, and governments about the fact that plain language documents are the "way to go" (not only because it's ethical and humane but because it can save millions of dollars). In my mind, my health literacy work is also plain language work so I've crossed over into both fields. I encourage you all to begin thinking about the broader context of this movement toward clarity in all documents intended for public consumption. Some of us are working to bring plain language to the forefront and receive more public attention in the US as it has in several other countries. In the meantime, it's helpful to think of ourselves as plain language advocates and workers, too. I think it can help us understand why our printed health care materials don't seem to be effective with many patients. It helps us take responsibility for our piece of the process and to do everything we can to meet patients at their level. With highest regards for you, my colleagues, in this challenging work, Audrey Riffenburgh Plain Language and Readability Specialist Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA plnenglish@aol.com
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