Dear List Surv,
 
Here is a brief summary of a health/literacy program that was conducted 
during the 1990s at the Univ. of Colorado Med School.
 
The purpose was to create awareness of the literacy problems, and teach 
mediating actions to reduce the problems.  The program was funded by NCI and ran 
for 2 years.  Laurie Schneider of AMC was involved in facilitating the program.  
(Ceci and I had very minor roles as consultants.)
 
To teach awareness of the problems, the program employed actors and actresses 
of several ethnic groups to act as "standarized patients".  They were given 
training to act as patients who had limited literacy skills.  (The students 
were not told in advance that this was role playing.)  The actors interacted with 
the med students in typical examining room situations. After these 
interactions, students were advised of ways they could have improved their 
communications with the pts.
 
Some findings:
 
-  The awareness goal was reached, and the students enjoyed the encounters.
 
-  The actors/actresses did not like their roles.  They felt demeanded to 
play "dumb" characters.
 
-  Soon the word got around to the students that these were not real 
patients, and being bright young people, and they began to "game" the system.
 
-  I believe that the program died; primarily for lack of funds. (And perhaps 
for lack of a strong advocate.)
 
-  A preliminary report was issued at the end of 2 years, but I don't believe 
there was a final report.
 
We hope this can add a bit on curriculum.  Is it of any help?
 
Ceci and Len Doak
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



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