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 i9EMM4U18923; Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:22:04 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:22:04 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <041D6AE5-1E2F-11D9-BC60-000A95940D36@epix.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: Laurie Anson <ansons@epix.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4560] new colorectal information X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.609) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: O Content-Length: 1968 Lines: 43 I am a critical care nurse who is also an adult literacy instructor. I have just taken a quick look at your site and am generally much impressed with the presentation, with a few caveats. First, on the main menu of health subjects, a multisyllabic word such as sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy could do with a parenthesized definition next to it. I know that my student at a fourth grade reading level would take one look at the "long words" and not even try to read them. This could cause confusion about which material to read. I reviewed the instructions on prepping for a colonoscopy with Phosphosoda. I very much like the approach and the directions are clear. However, with very little effort, some of the vocabulary could be simplified to make the information more available to the less literate reader. Some examples - arrange, escort, procedure (test), rescheduled, arrive, special, confirm, according, include. These words could be replaced without "talking down" to the reader and yet clarify the information for a low-literacy reader. "Review the diet you need to follow for the next 2 days. Plan your meals according to this diet." Translation - "These steps say what you can eat for 2 days before the test. Make sure you eat only these foods." "Drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day" Translation - "You must drink 8 or more glasses of water on this day. Do not drink it all at once." The two sentences "Stop eating seeds, popcorn, nuts and whole grains" and "Do not eat any solid food after midnight" are clear, simple and to the point, although a definition of "whole grains" might help. I am excited about this project and plan to review your site in more depth. It is gratifying to see such an effort made towards health literacy. Now if we could only teach enough low-literacy people to use computers, so we can direct them to your site.... Laurie Anson, RN Noxen, PA Bradford-Wyoming County Literacy Program
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