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 eA1KRl908760; Wed, 1 Nov 2000 15:27:47 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 15:27:47 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <Pine.A41.4.21.0011011155560.348140-100000@aagaard01.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: Kristina Anderson <keander@u.washington.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:2690] Re: Easy to Read Web Sites Caveat X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR Jan, I agree with you. When I am helping a patient access information on a condition, I go to one of my bookmarked sites where I've found helpful information in the past. But at the same time, I take into consideration several factors: reading level, layout, how well the information is written, and credibility of the information. The sites on the list I posted are for providers to access and then decide for themselves if the information meets their needs of what they want to teach the patient. We do not give our patients this list of sites. However, we are going to create an ETR button on our patient web site, which our patients access, and when they click on that, they will have subjects to choose from and under a given subject will be a handout that has been pre-approved for content by clinical staff. Here's an example from this morning: a clinician called me to see if we had any information on the surgical procedure nissan fundiplication. They want to hand patients something that will explain the process. I researched the web and found several sites with information, but none of it is written at less than an 8th grade level. However, I will give them the information, which they can read through, and then I will help them put together a handout that will be easier to read and include the information they want to teach. I hope this clarifies how we're using this list of sites and how we determine what is helpful and what is not. Kristina >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kristina Anderson Literacy Coordinator Harborview Medical Center 325 9th Avenue, Box 359710 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone (206) 731-6621 Pager (206) 994-7227 Fax (206) 731-2023 On Wed, 1 Nov 2000, jann keenan wrote: > Hello list members. Ah--we are most certainly entering an electronic age. > It is exciting and often overwhelming. I opened a good many of the sites > suggested as easy reads. And while I do not want to be an old stick in > the mud, I do offer this brief observation. Making something easy-to-read > or easy to understand still goes well beyond writing at a palatable > reading level. > > > While we are making strides nationally in the plain language/low-lit > arena, I still find so many of the "easy-to-read" web sites use little > color contrast, offer too many points, use thin or itsy bitsy print, > don't label graphics etc. In short--we are continuing to make the same > "mistakes" on the web as we do in print. In general, I find the > electronic information is too unwieldy and too passive, as are many "easy > to read" brochures and handouts. And cultural considerations are still > lower than desirable. > > > With that said, I do see light at the end of the tunnel. I was fortunate > enough to work on a NLM (National Library of Medicine) contract to help > senior citizens navigate the net and medical web sites. Seniors liked > what they learned from the web and stuck with it. One on one teaching on > computers and finding reliable sites, was of course, the key. YET, when > we have little time for patient/provider interaction, what can be done? > > > As you know all too well, there is so much medical information out there. > And again, many of our intended audiences for easy-to-read materials > (elderly, poor, non-native speakers, folks with learning disabilities, > etc.) don't use computers as their main source of information gathering. > > > > As educators, I believe we need to use caution when suggesting sites or > when printing off pages from "easy-to-read" sites to hand to our clients. > I like to go beyond offering a client materials he or she can read. As a > rule of thumb, I find a good goal is to offer materials a person WANTS to > read too! > > > <bold>I welcome comments on "When is writing something (print or > electronic) at a 6th grade level not enough to qualify as an easy-to-read > piece"? > > </bold> > > With regards, > > > Jann Keenan, Ed.S. > > President, The Keenan Group, Inc. > > 9862 Century Drive > > Ellicott City, MD 21042 > > www.keenangroupinc.com > > 410-480-9716 > > > > > > > > At 01:00 PM 11/1/2000 -0500, Susan Scritchfield wrote: > > >I wrote to thank Kristina for forwarding all the evaluated sites and > sent her this info - she encouraged me to post it to the listserv. > > > Thank you for your posting of easy-to-read sites. > > > > > >Wanted to point you to the large collection of our patient ed print > materials on the Internet. These are all at or below 8th grade reading > level. Most are general information - not specific to treatment at this > medical institution. > > > > > >Here's the direct address: > > >http://www.osumedcenter.edu/health_wellness/health_education/health_information.asp > > > > > >It is accessible through the Ohio State University web site, but more > easily through the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital Web site: > > >http://www.jamesline.com > > > Choose patient information > > > > > >We are working on implementation of a search engine for our Pt. Ed. mats > on the Internet. We currently have excellent search engine for our > Intranet posting of our materials. > > > > > >Hope this is helpful, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Susan Scritchfield LISW > > >Coordinator, Consumer Health Education, NSD/PE > > >Room 004, Arthur James Cancer Hospital > > >Ohio State University Medical Center > > >300 W. 10th Avenue > > >Columbus, Ohio 43210 > > >Ph: 614-293-3259 > > >Fax: 614-293-2333 > > >Email: scritchfield-1@medctr.osu.edu > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------- > > Click here for Free Video!! > > http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/ > > >
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