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 g4FGFXu21515; Wed, 15 May 2002 12:15:33 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 12:15:33 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <c9.223474e6.2a13e29b@aol.com> 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: Plnenglish@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3699] AMA video/Harvard video X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: AOL 6.0 for Windows US sub 10572 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="part1_c9.223474e6.2a13e29b_boundary" Status: O Content-Length: 5163 Lines: 124 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Greetings: Alicia H. White asked: >Has anyone used/previewed AMA's video "Low Health Literacy: You Can't Tell > By Looking". I'm wondering if it provides examples with for all types of > healthcare providers (i.e., dietitians) or just MDs? I called the AMA > ordering center but they did not know what was on the video beyond the > cover description. Thanks! I use both the AMA and Harvard videos in my presentations and workshops. They would both be helpful for any medical professional. However, I like the AMA video best for physicians and the Harvard video seems best for health care providers in hospital settings. Both are excellent for presenting the problems people with limited literacy skills encounter in health care settings. But in my opinion, they miss a great opportunity to point out that many people with average to above average literacy skills also miss the meaning of health related print materials. Many people with adequate to very good OVERALL literacy skills may have low HEALTH LITERACY when in a health care setting. This can be caused by lack of knowledge of the special medical terms, anxiety, effects of being ill, effects of medication, the health care providers' lack of ability to communicate information in layperson's terms, etc. When my college-educated father was diagnosed with leukemia, his functional health literacy was "zip" because he was so sick, frightened, and angry about his diagnosis. He simply couldn't read anywhere near his usual level. His "working memory" was full of all the concerns about living or dying. (He lived and is remission.) Please, everyone, let's remember that "health literacy" is not just about communicating health information to people with low overall literacy skills (about 1 out of 5 adults). Our challenge is much bigger than that! It's about helping ALL health care consumers become literate in the language and systems of health care and medicine. Audrey Riffenburgh, MA President, Riffenburgh and Associates Specialists in Plain Language and Health Literacy since 1994 P.O. Box 6670 Albuquerque, NM 87197-6670 USA Phone: 505-345-1107 Fax: 505-345-1104 E-mail: plnenglish@aol.com
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