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 eA1LUq910720; Wed, 1 Nov 2000 16:30:52 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 16:30:52 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <Pine.A41.4.21.0011011326440.319904-100000@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:2692] 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 We only rework materials that are copyright free. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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, Sandra Smith wrote: > Any concern about copyright law re this process? SS > > -----Original Message----- > From: nifl-health@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-health@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of > Kristina Anderson > Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 12:27 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:2690] Re: Easy to Read Web Sites Caveat > > > 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_informa > tion.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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