There is an even greater challenge for someone looking for language appropriate health information. Not all website information is free. Also, you need a subscription to RealPlayer to watch the operations on Medline Plus. Only 50% of Americans subscribe to the Internet so there is more than one issue. Asian language materials can be found at several sites, but each is written at for a slightly different audience. It seems that the priority was to collect all Asian language materials. Literacy level was a lower priority. Check out  a www.aancart.org and then click on their web portal  APICEM. AANCART is the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training. Many medical centers contribute to the site. Also, there is www.library.tufts.edu/hsl/spiral/brochures.html. SPIRAL is an all Asian language resource. Our website is www.cchrchealth.org. All materials are free to download in Simplified or Traditional Chinese or English. Knock yourselves out making as many copies you want. 
I think all of these sites would benefit from many more graphics, but the cost is huge. Color diagrams and pictures enhance comprehension, but the issue of finding good pictures that aren't under copyright has already been addressed. NIH should lead the way with this.

Janet Green

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Davies, Nicola
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:18 AM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1077] Re: Wednesday Question: Printing out
infofromcomputer


I know a few statistics - 60% of doctors use google as a tool to find health information and help diagnose. In our Wellness Centres we have moved away from google and solely use MedLine+, which is a wonderful resource. We were finding that many people were typing "herbal medication", "vit C" and "snoring" in the search engine, and of course, this was returning mainly sponsored links. Medline+ is a better alternative, but I very much like the clean, user-friendly appearance of the google home page. Medline+ is way too crowded for someone with low health literacy or low web literacy to be able to identify and use the search box right away. If you compare the two, you can see immediately what the implications of this are. 

In order for our websites to be accepted as a link in the wellness centres, we check for things like frames, printer friendly versions, how much extra software/add-ons you need to download to view the material, for web literacy. 

I would love to know everyone else's ideas and accounts of what they use.
Nicola

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Julie McKinney
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:54 AM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1075] Wednesday Question: Printing out info
fromcomputer


Hi Everyone,

Sunil's project made me think about how effective it could be to figure
out exactly what information a person needs, click around on a website,
and give them a handout that guides them through an important medical
process using pictures and plain language. This lead to today's
question:

How much do you (as literacy teachers, health educators, health
providers, and others) print out information from a website and use it
as a handout for students or patients?

How do you decide what websites and what kinds of matierial to use?

How easy is this in your setting (exam room, classroom, public forum,
etc.)?

How do patients/students respond to this?

I see the advantages of this approach being:

- If you have a good listing of resources, you can tailor the handout to
meet the person's needs (regarding topic and literacy level)
- You can find things written in simple language, and even handouts that
are mostly pictures 
- You have access to a bigger variety of handouts without going through
the process and expense of creating your own brochures for every
relevant health information topic
- It's free!!
- These can be authentic materials, which are shown to be effective and
motivating for adult basic education classes

I'd love to hear people's thoughts!

All the best,
Julie

Julie McKinney
Discussion List Moderator
World Education/NCSALL
jmckinney at worlded.org

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