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Project: Women, Literacy, and Health
Prepared by Jane Larimer
This topic is crystalline, in that there are many facets that
connect and reflect each other, yet are distinct within themselves. Several key
areas are presented here.
Recommendations
CCLOW
should:
- Develop health literacy materials.
- Develop literacy materials for women with low literacy
skills.
- Develop a curriculum for use in various learning
environments.
- Promote new and existing materials created for use by women
with low literacy skills.
Research and Materials Development
Perhaps the first facet is for CCLOW to explore "health
literacy". This is similar to "computer literacy" in that each is an area of
growing knowledge that has great impact on the general population. As this body
of knowledge grows, an ever larger number of people have outdated understanding
of issues, appropriate practices or treatments, and expected outcomes.
Coupled with increased demands on the health care system, the
results of this situation mean that people are more frequently expected to do
their own health research. An article in the May 2, 2000 edition of The Globe
and Mail reads:
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For his part, Mr. Singer has obtained more information
about the [medical] test from the Internet than from his family doctor. That's
not necessarily a bad thing. As Dr. Bunting points out, "For doctors to really
go through something like this would take at least half an hour, and they don't
even get a fee for counseling patients."
Instead, doctors can refer patients to websites aimed at
helping [patients] decide whether they want to have the test. (Schuman, "The
Ins and Outs of Checking on Prostate Cancer," Globe and Mail, 2/5/00, R13.)
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Thus, even literate people must acquire a new "literacy," that
of understanding medical information and applying it to themselves, often
making critical decisions without the support of experienced practitioners.
This creates the opportunity for the development of a vast body
of material containing, at least, general background information and, at most,
very specific information on health care issues. This information can prepare
women to dialogue with their health care professionals, for example, or can
direct women to sources of more detailed information to assist them with health
care decisions. Topics covered can include information about children and
pediatric medicine, in addition to women's health issues.
Research and Materials Development,
Curriculum Development
A second facet of this work is to focus
on the health care needs of women with low levels of literacy. Some very good
work has been done in this area; however, there are still gaps and as the
overall body of knowledge grows, so do these gaps.
Further, using new or existing materials, CCLOW could develop
"health curriculums" for use in programs throughout the country. Modules on
various topics can be developed for delivery in various venues (such as
workplace programs, family literacy programs, and community centers).
Policy Analysis
Health
policy analysis is a related facet of this topic. Primary research can be
undertaken by CCLOW, or findings' from other groups already doing this work can
be supported and promoted, and perhaps adapted for use by a wider group of
women. For example, Pat Armstrong is working on an analysis of the impact of
health policy (and in particular, privatization) on women. A recent paper of Ms
Armstrong is available through the Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. An
article in the May 1,2000 issue of the Toronto Star reports that a "male bias
[has been] found in researchers' health studies" in the US. We can expect
similar findings in Canada. Though taking on this research may be outside the
CCLOW mandate, the process of analysis and promotion of these findings may
provide an important part of a "health literacy" curriculum. |