Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108361

Ana Luz Chiapa-Scifres¹, Holly H. Jacobson, PhD¹, Francisco G. Soto Mas, MD, PhD, MPH¹, Hector Balcazar, MS, PhD², and Fernando Trevino, PhD, MPH³. (1) Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, 817-735-0128, achiapa@hsc.unt.edu, (2) Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, El Paso Regional Campus, 1100 N. Stanton, Suite 110, El Paso, TX 79902, (3) Health Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107

Language constitutes a major barrier to health care access, and contributes to health disparities. The continuous growth of the Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. has created a tremendous need for appropriate health information in Spanish. To meet the demand, the translation of health education materials has become common. However, research has shown that translated health materials contain linguistic features that hinder readers' level of comprehension. In order to avoid the communication problems inherent in using translated materials, this project established a step-by-step process for developing original written Spanish health materials. Seed money for the Spanish Materials Development Initiative at the UNTHSC School of Public Health was provided by Hablamos Juntos, a national program for improving patient-provider communication, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The development process includes identifying and recruiting native Spanish writers and consultants with professional expertise in the topic area, and testing the developed materials through qualitative and quantitative approaches. The materials are then edited, printed, and disseminated. The final phase consists of monitoring the impact of the materials in the participant community and making the necessary adjustments for making them effective in delivering the intended messages. The initiative relies on a collaborative partnership between researchers, providers, and community. This paper describes the Spanish Materials Development Initiative, the development process, and the collaborative partnership in which the process is embedded.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Describe the need for health materials developed originally in Spanish
• List the main problems inherent in using translated materials
• Outline a sound process for developing original Spanish health materials

Keywords: Health Communications, Latino Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.