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

Abstract #108460

Ana Luz Chiapa-Scifres¹, Francisco G. Soto Mas, MD, PhD, MPH¹, Holly E. Jacobson, PhD, MA¹, Fernando Trevino, PhD, MPH², and Subi Gandhi³. (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 Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, (3) Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699

The Office of Minority Health has recently published new health standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). One of these standards is to provide materials that are culturally appropriate, as well as linguistically appropriate. However, few existing health materials have been systematically tested with language minority populations. It is important to improve the development process, and produce health materials that better serve the needs of the increasingly diverse population in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient education materials developed originally in Spanish with Spanish-speaking participants through focus groups and individual cognitive testing. Health topics included Alzheimer's disease, family planning, cancer education, and diabetes. Participants were clients or patients in local health agencies that provide services related to the materials being tested. Focus groups provided information on the acceptability of the materials in the intended audience. Individual cognitive testing provided information on the comprehension of the texts by the reader, and on the thoughts and feelings emerging from reading the materials. The results of the evaluations informed the final versions of the materials. This paper describes the multidisciplinary research approach of the UNTHSC School of Public Health Spanish Materials Development Initiative, which draws on applied linguistics and public health. It also presents the methodology used for assessing the impact of health materials developed originally in Spanish, and discusses the results of the qualitative evaluation conducted with Spanish-speaking participants.

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

• Describe the advantages of materials developed originally in Spanish
• Identify the importance of evaluating written health materials
• Describe two different qualitative methods for evaluating written health materials

Keywords: Latino Health, Health Promotion

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.