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 i59DSr912730; Wed, 9 Jun 2004 09:28:53 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 09:28:53 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <410-220046391328872@earthlink.net> 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: "Debbie Yoho" <dwyoho@earthlink.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4446] Prostate Cancer X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: EarthLink MailBox 2004.1.89.0 (Windows) Status: O Content-Length: 3001 Lines: 68 This messager is a repeat of a previous post from Sue Stableford, in an effort to track down a technical problem. Please forgive if you already received it: (Debbie Yoho, moderator) This is a response to the inquiry from Barbara Lambiaso regarding the project they are developing on prostate cancer prevention, screening and treatment. I am not writing to comment on a screening tool for limited literacy, but to share an experience developing a plain language booklet about treatment choices for early stage prostate cancer and to direct list members to the treatment booklet. A colleague in the Clear Langauge Group, Janet Ohene-Frempong and I, were the plain language authors of a booklet about treatment choices for early stage prostate cancer developed collaboratively with the Michigan Cancer Consortium Prostate Action Committee. The group included physicians, researchers, patient advocates and a graphic design team. We worked long and hard producing a piece that included all information essential for informed patient decision-making at the easiest possible level. The final booklet is at an overall 7th grade level according to the Fry readability formula. Several pages with necessary medical terms are slightly higher. We found that it was not possible to create written information that fully disclosed risks and benefits of treatment choices at a lower reading level. Ideally, the patient's physician will discuss the information, and offer the booklet as a review. The research team continues with the project, developing and assessing alternative ways of sharing the same information. The May 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine includes an article about why this new booklet was developed. (See: Fagerlin et al. "Patient Education Materials about the Treatment of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer: A Critical Review, pp 721-728) You can download the booklet at this web address: www.hsr.msu.edu. Click on "Making the Coice." The CDC distributes some fine plain language booklets about prostate cancer screening, a decision guide for the general male population and another specifically for African American men. These can both be downloaded or ordered from the CDC website under the title "Prostate Cancer Screening." Print materials are certainly not a total solution to effective communication, especially for adults with very limited literacy skills. But, these booklets are a good start for many. Sue Stableford Click on the booklet titled "Making The Choice." Sue Stableford, MPH, MSB, Director AHEC Health Literacy Center University of New England 11 Hills Beach Rd. Biddeford, Maine 04005 Tel: 207-283-0170 ext 2205 Fax: 207-294-5961 email: sstableford@une.edu Founding Member: The Clear Language Group (www.clearlanguagegroup.com) Debbie Yoho Moderator, NIFL-Health Listserv Past-president, SC Adult Literacy Educators Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council 2728 Devine Street Columbia, SC 29204 dwyoho@earthlink.net 803-765-2555
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