Pleasant, A. & Kuruvilla, S. (2008). A tale of two health literacies: public health and clinical approaches to health literacy. Health Promotion International, 23(2),152-159

Schiavo, R. (2007). Health communication: From theory to practice.San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Schwartzberg, J. G., VanGeest, J. B. & Wang, C. G. (Eds.). (2005). Understanding health literacy: Implications for medicine and public health. United States: American Medical Association. 

Canadian Council on Learning. (2007). Health Literacy in Canada: Initial results from the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey. Ottawa: Canadian Council on Learning.  View Report

Friedman, D., & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2007). Assessing cultural sensitivity of breast cancer information for older Aboriginal women. Journal of Cancer Education, 22(2), 112-118.

Rootman, I., & Gordon-El-Bihbety, D. (2008). A Vision for a Health Literate Canada: Report
of the Expert Panel on Health Literacy. Ottawa: Canadian Public Health Association. View Report

Friedman, D., Hoffman-Goetz, L., & Arocha, J. F. (2004). Readability of cancer information on the internet. Journal of Cancer Education, 19(2), 117-122.

Fogel, J. (2003). Internet use for cancer information among racial/ethnic groups and low literacy groups. Cancer Control, 10(5), 45-51.

Neuhauser, L. & Kreps, G. L. (2008). Online cancer communication: Meeting the literacy, cultural and linguistic needs of diverse audiences. Patient Education and Counseling, 71(3), 365-377. 

Thomson, M. D., Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2007). Readability and cultural sensitivity of web-based patient decision aids for cancer screening and treatment: A systematic review. Informatics for Health and Social Care 32(4), 263-286.

There are a variety of resources available for patients and families. Here are a few suggestions on where to start:

• The Patient Library has a wide variety of materials available for loan. All of the materials in the library are reviewed and approved by staff members at the RCP.
  • The Search Request Form allows patients to request a customized information package
  • The Patient Library website offers a series of links and subject guides
• The video Understanding your Treatment and the Information for Patients and Families binder are available on the website.

American Medical Association . (2003) Health Literacy: help your patients understand [kit].

Chicago:American Medical Association Foundation.

Canadian Public Health Association National Literacy and Health Program. (1998)  Easy does it: plain

language and clear verbal communication. Ottawa: Canadian Public Health Association.

US Dept of Health and human services (2006). Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines.

Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.   View Report

usability.gov

usabilitynet.org

Wilson, F., Baker, L. Brown-Syed, C., Gollop, C. (2000). An Analysis of the readability and cultural sensitivity of information on the National Cancer Institute’s website: CancerNet.™ Oncology Nursing Forum 27(9), 1403-1409.

Every single resource in the Patient Library (including websites) has been reviewed and approved by RCP staff members.

If you would like to see a list of approved materials or are interested in reviewing some materials please contact Roxanne Chaput, Ext 2175 rchaput@hrsrh.on.ca

Karten, C. (2007). Easy to Write? Creating Easy-to-Read Patient Education Materials. Journal Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 11(4), 506-510

Mayer, G. G. & Villaire, M. (2007). Health literacy in primary care: A  clinician’s guide. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

National Cancer Institute. (2003). Clear & Simple: Developing Effective Print Materials for Low-Literate Readers. Retrieved on June 16,  2008, from http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/oc/clear-and-simple