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Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3613] Who's on the List? Survey results
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Members who have been on the list at least since Thanksgiving 2001 will
recall an attempt by this moderator to survey "Who's on this list?" conducted
in December-January-February. I am finally able to offer some results.
This should be regarded as an attempt to take a "snapshot" of a moving
target, since the list changes every day. In order to avoid the issue of
semantics and the problem of wide disparity from place to place vis a vis job
titles, degrees, etc., the survey was conducted by offering a long list of
nouns and adjectives that might describe what participants do, where, and
with whom. Responders chose as many of the words to describe themselves as
they felt appropriate. Accordingly, percentage results should not be added
together.
This report will reflect a good deal of personal observation and speculation
on my part. Hopefully the reader can separate facts from my opinions.
There were a total of 68 individuals responding.
40% or more selected the following descriptors:
full-time: 70.5%
Adults (work with) 54%
local level: 47%
public: 44%
health professional: 40%
writers/editors: 40%
20-35% selected the following descriptors:
hospital: 35%
public health: 31%
consultant: 29%
private: 29%
university: 26%
literacy professional: 25%
state level: 25%
library: 25%
children (work with: 25%
seniors work with): 25%
women (work with) 22%
coordinator: 20.5%
Patient educator: 20.5%
9-18% selected the following descriptors:
part-time: 19%
national level : 18%
men (work with) 18%
English language (ESL, ESOL) 16%
RN's 15%
Publishing: 13%
Adult Ed: 13%
Youth 13%
Diabetes 12%
Cardiac 10%
Cancer 9%
The following descriptors were selected by 5 individuals or fewer. I have
indicated exactly how many individuals chose each descriptor:
Clinicians 5
Librarians 5
MDs 4
Social workers 4
Dieticians 4
Social service agency as location: 4
Faith-based 3
Children's literacy 3
Migrants 3
Fundraising 3
Tutors 3
Counselors 2
Therapists 2
Mental health setting 2
Corrections 2
Church location 2
HIV 1
Homeless 1
K-12 School location 1
Rehabilitation specialist 1
Allied health 1
In addition, 4 individuals spontaneously added "researcher", which
unfortunately was not included in the list of choices.
Professional background/training: Responders were asked to include their
degrees and/or certification in their answers. Many did not. Therefore, I
shall just list the degrees/certifications that were offered. NOTE: Should
the reader desire to know what certain initials stand for, please ask the
list, as I may not know. I have listed the item as it was given to me:
MPH, MSW, BS (Psych), MS (education), Ph.D., M.Ed., AS in Nursing, BS in
Nursing, CRRN, M in Lib. Science, MLIS (M of Lib. and Info Sci.), MS in
Nursing, Ph.D. (adult Ed), MD, Nurse Doctorate, RN, "journalism
background", BSW, RD, CNAA, MSH, LD/N, EdS (Pharm). , BCPS, MAT, BA
(communication studies), MS (exercise physiology), BS (general dietetics),
BSD (human services), BA (health sciences), CHES, CPNP, RRT, M.Ed.
(reading), OTR/L, Doctor of Public Health (Dr.PH), MA, Certified Family and
Consumer Scientist, graduate certificate (gerontology),
Conclusions: This informal poll obviously demonstrates above all that
individuals interested in health literacy are a profoundly diverse group,
more diverse than I expected. Nearly everyone works in more than one
setting, wearing more than one hat. Individuals working primarily in eduction
and literacy as opposed to health are in a decided minority, as are
individuals who work only part-time. Every person who offered their
degree/background is college-educated. Personally, I was surprised at how
many chose "writer/editor"; for me, this explains why there seems to be more
discussion about writing easy-to-read than other aspect of health literacy.
I shall also report that every individual gave me their name, and usually
their address/phone. Thank you for your trust. If you would like to
connect privately with an individual or group (example: who are the RNs on
the list?) I will provide this information AFTER FIRST CHECKING WITH THE
INDIVIDUALS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT S/HE WANTS HIS/HER NAME RELEASED PRIVATELY
TO THE INQUIRER. I will release no name to the list as a whole under any
circumstance. However, if I am swamped with requests of this nature I may
have to withdraw the offer. But I'd thought I'd suggest it in the interest
of deepening your professional contact and the benefit of being a list
member.
Suggestion: I thought it might be fun to extend this line of inquiry by
inviting list members who responded to be "interviewed" by the list, to share
more details of what s/he does and/or to share ideas, opinions, best
practices, experience. In effect, rather than bring in "outside" people as
"guests", we can "get to know each other" better. If you like this idea,
please give me some encouragement. If anyone wants to volunteer to be
"interviewed", please contact me off-list. I have in mind inviting list
members to send you questions to your private email during a specified time
period, not to the list. Then you would respond as you wish to the list,
during a specified time frame. You would not be responding as an "expert" in
anything, only offering what you think may be helpful.
Deborah W. Yoho
Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
Co-Moderator, NIFL-Health Discussion Group
921 Woodrow Street
Columbia, SC 29205
803-765-2555 Fax: 803-799-8417 dwyoho@aol.com
Agency email: litcola@mail.com
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