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Tools and Resources | Special Needs | Health Literacy

Health Literacy

Beyond The Brochure: Alternative Approches to Effective Health
An 80 page booklet about different ways to communicate with low-literacy clients such as posters, fotonovelas, drama, games and audiovisual materials. From the AMC Cancer Research Center in Colorado.
Health Literacy: a Prescription to End Confusion
In April 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report about the state of health literacy in the United States and issued recommendations for addressing the problems.
 
How to Create and Assess Print Materials
Help for designing and assessing printed health materials from the Harvard School of Public Health.
 
Literacy and Health Outcomes
A report from the U. S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released in January 2004 which concludes that low reading skill and poor health are clearly related.
Materials Development and Assessment
A list of resources to help with writng and assessing easy to read health information. From the Health and Literacy Compendium.
 
The Newest Vital Sign
A new health literacy assessment tool for health professionals. Developed by Dr. Barry Weiss and his colleagues at the University of Arizona. This tool was designed to quickly and effectively assess patients' health literacy skills.
 
Partnership for Clear Health Communication
A coalition of national organizations that are working together to promote awareness and solutions around the issue of low health literacy and its effect on health outcomes. They suggest that patients should ask 3 questions of their health care providers - What is my main problem? What do I need to do? Why is it important for me to do this?
 
Preparing Patient Education Materials
People at all literacy levels prefer written materials that are simple and attractive. This fact sheet is one in a series of nine developed for providers who are designing materials for consumers. It details how to develop materials that are easy to understand. From the Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.

Updated 07/29/2009

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