I'll agree about surgeons although we are probably unfairly
generalizing. 

A local IRB asks for research consent forms to be written at the 6th
grade level. But their own template for consent forms was about the 16th
grade level! My version is still in limbo going back and forth between
the PI, me and the IRB. It was orginally at the 6th grade level. I
haven't tested it again lately but am trying to tell myself that at
least it's better than the template. And of course there will be oral
communication during the consent process as required. I'm starting to
wonder how any research ever gets done in this country.

I'll admit that the last time I had surgery, I signed the consent form
without thoroughly reading it. But I might have read it a little more
thoroughly if it hadn't been so intimidating. I was not in the mood for
heavy reading...
Janet Sorensen
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
501-212-8650
-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Fetty, Kimberly
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 8:35 AM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 3681] Re: Labeling "at risk" people?
Orlabelingpoor communication?

My experience is that surgeons believe they are gods sent to earth to
save the rest of us from ourselves! I make myself accept that this is
the mentality necessary to do their work. And, we do need them in the
world. : ) I think they probably have just as hard a time accepting me
and my personality. 

________________________________________
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov [healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Marshall, Caroline D. [Caroline.Marshall at danhosp.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 8:19 AM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 3681] Re: Labeling "at risk" people?
Orlabelingpoor    communication?

I like that angle.  I had not thought of it that way before. The
healthcare environment is a new and unfamiliar place for many people, so
materials should be written in plain language.  However when I did a
presentation to our Surgery dept I showed a paragraph of our Informed
consent  document, one paragraph came out at a college reading level but
one surgeon got so bent out of shape when I suggested making it more
readable, or putting in a space for the patient to write in what he
thought the procedure was and its side effects etc. .  The consensus was
that this document had been reworked and was considered the best that
could be done.  Really by who? the patients. Unfortunately there was not
enough time to discuss it further.  I am told surgeons are a "different
lot"


Caroline

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Helen Osborne
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 4:00 PM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 3679] Re: Labeling "at risk" people?
Orlabelingpoor communication?

Hi NIFL-Health,

[I am sending this message on behalf of Archie Willard who, for some
reason, had trouble getting his email through to you. ~Helen Osborne]
Here is what Archie wrote:

This subject keeps coming back. Testing people for literacy skills in a
doctor's office or a clinic was something The New Readers of Iowa at
their 2d Health Literacy Conference said in a statement "a doctors
office is no place for a reading test because it brought back the times
when they had to take tests in school and they failed'. There were over
one hundred new readers at this conference from 9 different states.

The Question: Do you understand putting all the responsibility on our
shoulders. What about the person who writes the material or who is
talking to us? Are you a good communicator? Are you clear? Are you using
everyday words? Are you giving us directions or information in a logical
order? Are you helping us take action? Please don't test our literacy
skills. Look in the mirror and test your communication skills

I have been to some health literacy conferences the past year. At these
conferences it has been said "that people who come for medical help have
the right to have materials written that they can understand and they
need to be talked to in everyday words

Archie Willard
Adult Learner
Health Literacy Advocate
URL - http://www.readiowa.org/archiew.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Audrey Riffenburgh
To: 'The Health and Literacy Discussion List'
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:26 PM
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 3673] Re: Labeling "at risk" people? Or
labelingpoor communication?


Greetings, all,

Fran, I DO say "this makes sense for everyone" and it's true. If you
look at the NAAL health literacy data, you'll see that "only 12% of the
population is proficient" in the tasks required for health literacy. But
I think we

need to turn that on its head and say "the health, medical, and
insurance industries have built systems that do not work for 88% of
their intended

audiences." I think we ought to start using that kind of labeling.

As we make the case, we don't have to point out any specific "at risk"
populations because 88% of us are at risk of not being able to handle
the systems that we're forced to use to get our health care, learn about
healthy choices, etc. We need to make the case for change from that
perspective and challenge the institutions, corporations, agencies, etc.
to recreate systems and processes that work for everyone, no matter
their educational, literacy, or language skills. That is their
responsibility, I believe! In communication, whether patient education,
technical writing, social marketing, or advertising, the
writers'/speakers' first task is to know their audience and customize to
the audience's needs and interests. That

means one does not use methods that reach only 12% of your audience!
Let's
put the responsibility where it should be.

Audrey Riffenburgh, M.A., President
Plain Language Works, LLC
Specialists in Plain Language & Health Literacy since 1994 Based
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Phone: (505) 345-1107   E-mail: ar at plainlanguageworks.com
========================================
Principal and Founding Member, www.clearlanguagegroup.com Co-founder and
former Faculty, www.healthliteracyinstitute.net Ph.D. Student in Health
Communication, Univ. of New Mexico

----------------------------------------------------
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