scholarly journals Words Matter: An Analysis of the Content and Readability of COVID-19 Information on Clinic Websites

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayank Sakhuja ◽  
Brooks Yelton ◽  
Michelle A. Arent ◽  
Samuel Noblet ◽  
Mark M. Macauda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Focus Information ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Objective: To examine content and readability of COVID-19 information on outpatient clinic websites in South Carolina.Participants: Thirty-three outpatient clinic websites.Methods: Using a multi-step search strategy, we located three COVID-19 information content sections from each website. Descriptive statistics were calculated for content section characteristics (focus, information source, target population/race, presence of graphics, mobilizing information). Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) were used to calculate reading levels. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests were performed to examine readability levels by clinic type (primary care vs. specialty) and content section characteristics.Results: Twenty-six clinics offered COVID-19 information; 70 content sections across all 26 clinics were analyzed. Sections focused on COVID-19 clinic policies (48.4%), prevention (22.6%), testing (19.4%), and symptoms (9.7%). 93.5% lacked target population, 41.9% provided no information source, 38.7% had no graphics, and none mentioned racial/ethnic groups. MFRE = 54.3, MFKGL = 9.9, MSMOG = 9.5.Conclusion: COVID-19 information focused mainly on clinic policy and was written at a ninth-grade skill level. Findings suggest there is opportunity for clinics to update their online content to convey more plain language and sourced information, especially for high-risk groups.

A Systems Approach to Communication Behavior Among Scientists, Foresters, and NIPF Landowners

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara B. Baldwin ◽  
Jacqueline L. Haymond
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Communication Behavior ◽  
Common Information ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract The communication behavior of scientists, foresters, and landowners in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia was studied using mail surveys in the fall of 1989. Scientists' most common information sources were other scientists, meetings, and journals; their information output was primarily directed toward scientists. Nearly all foresters studied had contacts with NIPF landowners; their most common information sources were other foresters, agency pamphlets, and meetings. Their information output consisted primarily of interpersonal communication. Over one-third of the NIPF landowners contacted received no forest management information; their most common information source was other landowners. The findings highlight technology transfer limitations. Information is progressively restricted as it moves from source to link to user, and interaction between the three groups is limited. South. J. App. For. 18(4): 175-180.

scholarly journals Promoting Equity, Social Justice, and Saving Lives with Life Jacket and Clothing Policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Beale-Tawfeeq ◽  
Linda Quan ◽  
Elizabeth Bennett ◽  
Roy Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Minorities ◽  
The Us ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Equity And Inclusion ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Worldwide, diverse racial/ethnic groups have disproportionately higher drowning rates. Learning to swim and wearing life jackets decrease drowning risk. We evaluated aquatic facilities’ policies regarding use of life jackets, clothing, and diapers through a lens of social justice, equity, and inclusion to ensure they met the needs of the diverse high-risk groups they serve and changing aquatic activities and programs. Public recreational pools, beach and waterpark facilities in the US and international organizations were surveyed regarding their policies on life jacket use, clothing, and diapers between 2015 and 2016. A total of 562 facilities responded, mostly pools. Almost all facilities allowed wearing life jackets in the shallow end but less so in the deep end, and wearing of T-shirts, shorts, and clothes for modesty reasons. Policies varied most on wearing non-swim clothes. Almost universal requirement of diapers applied to infants only. Respondents’ reported themes included cost, access, safety, hygiene and equipment maintenance. Reviewed policies generally reflected facilities’ responsiveness to diverse populations’ specific needs. However, policy variations around wearing clothing and swim diapers could be costly, confusing, and impede participation in aquatic activities by vulnerable populations, specifically young children and racial and ethnic minorities. Standardization of these policies could assist aquatic facilities and their users. A best-practices-based policy is outlined.

scholarly journals Assessing the quality, readability and reliability of online information on COVID-19: an infoveillance observational study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Cardoso Lins-Filho ◽  
Thuanny Silva de Macêdo ◽  
Andressa Kelly Alves Ferreira ◽  
Maria Cecília Freire de Melo ◽  
Millena Mirella Silva de Araújo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Content Quality ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Web Contents ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Quality And Reliability ◽  
The Web

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the quality, reliability and readability of internet-based information on COVID-19 available on Brazil’ most used search engines.MethodsA total of 68 websites were selected through Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The websites content quality and reliability were evaluated using the DISCERN questionnaire, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and the presence of the Health on Net (HON) certification. Readability was assessed by the Flesch Reading Ease adapted to Brazilian Portuguese (FRE-BP).ResultsThe web contents were considered moderate to low quality according to DISCERN and JAMA mean scores. Most of the sample presented very difficult reading levels and only 7.4% displayed HON certification. Websites of Governmental and health-related authorship nature showed lower JAMA mean scores and quality and readability measures did not correlate to the webpages content type.ConclusionCOVID-19 related contents available online were considered of low to moderate quality and not accessible.

scholarly journals Assessing the quality, readability and reliability of online information on COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e3591210680
Author(s):  
Paulo Cardoso Lins-Filho ◽  
Millena Mirella Silva de Araújo ◽  
Thuanny Silva de Macêdo ◽  
Andressa Kelly Alves Ferreira ◽  
Maria Cecilia Freire de Melo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Content Quality ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Health Related

During a public health crisis, the dissemination of reliable information, advice and experts’ opinions is essential for improving public comprehension of potential or actual health threats and enables the public to take informed decisions about risk mitigation measures. This study aimed to assess the quality, reliability and readability of internet-based information on COVID-19 available on Brazil’ most used search engines. A total of 68 websites were selected through Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The websites content quality and reliability were evaluated using the DISCERN questionnaire, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and the presence of the Health on Net (HON) certification. Readability was assessed by the Flesch Reading Ease adapted to Brazilian Portuguese (FRE-BP). The web contents were considered moderate to low quality according to DISCERN and JAMA mean scores. Most of the sample presented very difficult reading levels and only 7.4% displayed HON certification. Websites of Governmental and health-related authorship nature showed lower JAMA mean scores and quality and readability measures did not correlate to the webpages content type. COVID-19 related contents available online were considered of low to moderate quality and not accessible to general population. These findings indicate the need for further efforts on improving the quality of health-related content on internet, especially during public health emergencies.

Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities in South Carolina and the Role of Rural Locality and Educational Attainment

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 711-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
SARAH LEVIN ◽  
ELIZABETH J. MAYER-DAVIS ◽  
BARBARA E. AINSWORTH ◽  
CHERYL L. ADDY ◽  
FRAN C. WHEELER
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Rural Locality

scholarly journals 1062 The Role of Sleep in Sex and Racial/Ethnic Differences in 10-Year CVD Risk in the Sleep Heart Health Study: The Use of Machine-Learnt and Precision Insights to Understand Racial/Ethnic and Sex Differences in Sleep-CVD Disparity

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A403-A405
Author(s):  
A Seixas ◽  
P Jin ◽  
M Liu ◽  
J Nunes ◽  
M Grandner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
Blacks And Whites ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Level 2

Abstract Introduction The current study investigated whether insufficient sleep (<7 hrs.) explains differences in 10-year CVD risk, using Framingham risk (FRS) and Reynolds risk (RRS) scores, between blacks and whites and characterized risk and protective CVD risk profiles. Methods Using the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) (N=6,441) data, we investigated the independent role of insufficient sleep in explaining differences in 10-years CVD between blacks and whites via a proportional odds model of four 10-year CVD risk groups: low (<5%), low-medium (5% to <10%), medium-high (10% to <20%) and high (≥20%), adjusting for age, sex, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). We performed two levels of cluster analyses; via hierarchical cluster algorithm with entire sample (Level 1), and latent profiles in the low (protective profiles) and high (risk profiles) CVD risk groups (Level 2) to determine overall CVD risk, and risk and protective CVD profiles. Results Blacks had a higher prevalence of smoking behavior, diabetes, mean systolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol compared to whites. Conversely, whites had a higher mean HDL cholesterol, sleep hours, and sleep efficiency compared to blacks. Men had higher 10-year CVD risk than women. AHI and race/ethnicity-sleep interaction were positively associated, while sleep was negatively associated with FRS and RRS. Across all CVD risk groups, whites who slept less than 5.5 hrs. had a higher CVD risk and those who slept more than 6.5 hrs. had a lower CVD risk compared to blacks. In Level 1 cluster analyses, we found two clusters: Cluster 1 (n= 3233): 6.17 sleep hours, apnea-index 11.84, age 59, SBP 125.43, total cholesterol 209, HDL 51.39, BMI 29.03, and slightly more than 50% female; and Cluster 2 (n=1657): 5.61 sleep hours, apnea-index 13.41, age 74, SBP 131, total cholesterol 204, HDL 50.30, BMI 26.45, and slightly less than 50% female. In Level 2 cluster analyses, we found two profiles within the low and high CVD risk groups. Conclusion These findings suggest that blacks may not receive full protection from long-term CVD risk with longer sleep duration, as their white counterparts. Support K01HL135452, R01MD007716, R01HL142066, K07AG052685

Plain Language Pediatrics

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ann Abrams ◽  
Benard P. Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Ear Infections ◽  
Limited Health

An essential tool to help improve communication between pediatrician and patient or family, Plain Language Pediatrics offers a framework for implementing a plain language approach to communication in your office, and provides specific steps you can take to ensure the information you present to patients and their parents is clearly understood. Included are 25 reproducible plain language patient education handouts--in English and Spanish! Plain Language Pediatrics combines health literacy and plain language principles to present information in a way that makes it as easy as possible for everyone to understand, and applies these principles to a variety of ambulatory acute, chronic, and preventive conditions. Common pediatric topics such as asthma, ADHD, ear infections, and medical dosing are addressed in detail. This robust resource is divided into 2 parts. Part I explores limited health literacy, including the scope of the problem, how it affects children in particular, and how health care providers can address and overcome health literacy issues with patients and their caregivers. At the heart of Part II is a new series of 25 reproducible patient education handouts in English and Spanish that feature need-to-know information up front, health care terms and jargon, practical pronunciation guides, low reading levels, user-friendly layouts, and simple, purposeful illustrations.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent Use Among the Insured Poor: Pre- and Post-Safety Advisories

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 395-395
Author(s):  
Dana Stafkey-Mailey ◽  
Charles Bennett ◽  
Michael Dickson
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Black Box ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
High Benefit ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Risk Ratios ◽  
White Patients

Abstract Abstract 395 Background: Racial/ethnic variations in utilization of cancer care services and outcomes are well documented with African Americans (AAs) almost uniformly shown to have lower utilization rates than Whites. This issue is especially important with respect to use of the supportive care agents, erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) during time-periods where ESAs were perceived as being associated with high benefit-risk ratios as well as with low benefit-risk ratios. We evaluated ESA utilization among Medicaid patients in South Carolina with anemia and lung cancer (LC), non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) or breast cancer (BC). Three time-points were selected; 2002 nearly 10 years after epoetin alfa received an indication for anemia associated with chemotherapy and the first full year following the approval of darbepoetin, 2006 the year prior to ESA safety notifications and 2009 the most recent full year of data following the implementation of a black box warning. Methods: The analysis utilizes South Carolina Medicaid fee-for-service paid claims. AA and White patients diagnosed with LC=162.xx; NHL=201.xx and 202.xx; or females with BC=174.xx plus anemia (ICD-9-CM=284.xx, 285.xx) were evaluated. Utilization rates were calculated annually as a percent of patients within each racial group with at least one prescription claim or procedure code for an ESA (i.e. epoetin/darbepoetin). Fisher's exact test was used to test for utilization rate differences. Results: The number of SC Medicaid patients diagnosed with anemia and one of the three cancers ranged from 442 to 655 annually. The average age of the study population in 2002 (55.6 years), 2006 (55.3 years) and 2009 (57.7 years) did not vary significantly between AAs and Whites. Among all cancer patients, ESA utilization increased from 2002 peaking in 2006 (prior to safety notifications and CMS National Coverage Decision). Following publication of the black box warning, utilization rates decreased 60% for AAs and 67% for Whites, in 2009. Initially (2002) utilization rates were 15% lower among AAs than Whites. However, by 2006 utilization rates were 13% higher in AAs compared to Whites. Following the black box warning, utilization rates were 30% greater in AAs versus Whites among all cancer patients (LC, BC or NHL). More specifically, ESA utilization rates were 47% greater among AAs compared to Whites with BC, and 280% greater among AA versus White patients with NHL. In contrast, ESA utilization rates were 9% lower in AAs compared to Whites with LC. (Table) Conclusions: Following the approval of darbepoetin in 2002, utilization of ESAs were lower among AA patients with LC, BC or NHL compared to Whites. However, by 2006 when these agents were perceived to have high benefit-risk profiles utilization rates were greater among anemic AA versus White cancer patients. The utilization rates remained higher for AAs during 2009 when ESAs were perceived to have lower benefit-risk profile. Our findings indicate that disparities in the utilization of ESA changed overtime. Counter to results reported in prior studies of racial/ethnic disparities, among the insured poor in South Carolina in recent years, rates of ESA utilization were greater for AAs versus Whites. Additional analyses will evaluate if these differences were associated with differences in outcomes and toxicity. Disclosures: Bennett: Pfizer: Consultancy.

Screening – potential weak links in the chain

Clinical Risk ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 210-213
Author(s):  
David Elliman
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Weak Links ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Missed Diagnosis ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Uk

Superficially, screening programmes may seem relatively straightforward to organize. However they are much more complicated than appears at first sight. The UK National Screening Committee, set up in 1996, advises all four nations on the introduction of new screening programmes and the improvement or, less commonly, cessation of an established programme. Most of the established programmes have a Programme Centre which advises on the running of the programme and sets standards. Because true outcomes may be some years hence, these standards usually relate to the process, rather than health improvement. There are many different stages in the programmes from ascertaining the target population to timely diagnosis and prompt management. This means there are a number of places where the system might fail. Therefore, part of the advice offered by the Programme Centres relates to failsafe mechanisms. These are backup systems, designed to make sure that no child slips through the net and all are correctly assigned to high or low risk groups. These systems may be expensive, but are necessary and cost effective. A missed diagnosis causes unnecessary disability to the child and distress to the parents, and may be very costly to the health service.

scholarly journals Differences in Obesity Among Men of Diverse Racial and Ethnic Background

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 984-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Hill ◽  
Caryn Bell ◽  
Janice V. Bowie ◽  
Elizabeth Kelley ◽  
Debra Furr-Holden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Obesity Prevalence ◽  
Hispanic Men ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Racial/ethnic disparities exist in obesity prevalence among men, with Hispanic men exhibiting the highest prevalence compared with non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black men. Most studies do not parse out Hispanic groups; therefore, it is unclear whether the increases in obesity rates among Hispanic men applies to all groups or if there are particular groups of Hispanic men that are driving the increase. The goal of this study is to examine the variations in obesity among men of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds and determine if obesity is affected by nativity. The data used in this study were from 11 years (2002-2012) of the National Health Interview Survey. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity, obesity, and nativity. After adjusting for covariates, there are differences in obesity prevalence, with the largest prevalence among Puerto Rican men and Mexican American men. Consistent with previous literature, it has been suggested that men born in the United States are more likely to be obese than men born outside the United States. This study underscores the importance of distinguishing Hispanic groups when examining obesity, and provides information for future, targeted intervention strategies related to obesity among high-risk groups.

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