Wooksoo Kim1, Isok Kim2, Krisztina Baltimore2, Ahmed Salman Imtiaz3, Biplab Sudhin Bhattacharya3, Li Lin3. 1. School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA. Electronic address: wkim5@buffalo.edu. 2. School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA. 3. School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA.
Abstract
Accessing and receiving quality healthcare in an unfamiliar health system is a significant challenge for many new immigrants and refugees. This study aims to provide a three-phase model to develop a web-based health information website that helps populations with limited English proficiency (LEP) increase health literacy and improve healthcare service access. METHOD: First, we conducted a needs assessment from community leaders and service providers. Second, we developed contents from credible sources and tested each item using multiple readability tests. Last, we revised each item to lower the readability and retest its readability. RESULTS: The average reading level for the original 99 topics was assessed at 10.84 (SD= 3.26). After revisions, we were able to lower the readability to 8.56 (SD= 2.96), which was around two grade levels lower, on average. CONCLUSION: the main purpose for building an English based health information website was to assist the population with LEP. By using simple English with lower readability, it will ease the translation process. This study demonstrates a process to develop suitable contents for populations in need. In the future, incorporating visual aid and other multimedia will be beneficial in user engagement and knowledge retention.
Accessing and receiving quality healthcare in an unfamiliar health system is a significant challenge for many new immigrants and refugees. This study aims to provide a three-phase model to develop a web-based health information website that helps populations with limited English proficiency (LEP) increase health literacy and improve healthcare service access. METHOD: First, we conducted a needs assessment from community leaders and service providers. Second, we developed contents from credible sources and tested each item using multiple readability tests. Last, we revised each item to lower the readability and retest its readability. RESULTS: The average reading level for the original 99 topics was assessed at 10.84 (SD= 3.26). After revisions, we were able to lower the readability to 8.56 (SD= 2.96), which was around two grade levels lower, on average. CONCLUSION: the main purpose for building an English based health information website was to assist the population with LEP. By using simple English with lower readability, it will ease the translation process. This study demonstrates a process to develop suitable contents for populations in need. In the future, incorporating visual aid and other multimedia will be beneficial in user engagement and knowledge retention.
Authors: Samantha Streuli; Najla Ibrahim; Alia Mohamed; Manupriya Sharma; Markie Esmailian; Ibrahim Sezan; Carrie Farrell; Mark Sawyer; Dan Meyer; Khaled El-Maleh; Ritu Thamman; Alex Marchetti; Alan Lincoln; Eric Courchesne; Ahmed Sahid; Sanjeev P Bhavnani Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-09-14 Impact factor: 3.006