Health Literacy Resources Available for Loan from Literacy BC Provincial Literacy Resource Centre Last update: June, 2010
Here are some of the health literacy resources available for loan, by mail, to anyone in BC. There is no cost for borrowing books. You can learn more about the library and search the library catalogue on the Web at http://www.literacybc.ca/PLRC/ResourceCentre.php.
Contact Literacy BC to borrow these and other resources:
Telephone 604-684-0624 or toll free in BC 1-888-732-3234. Fax 604-684-8520
Email library@literacy.bc.ca
At risk: a socio-economic analysis of health and literacy among seniors.
Paul Roberts and Gail Fawcett, Centre for International Statistics, Canadian Council on Social Development, 2001. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89f0104x/4151175-eng.htm
Health literacy in Canada: initial results from the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS). Canadian Council on Learning, 2007. http://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Reports/HealthLiteracy/HealthLiteracy2007.htm?Language=EN
Information on the distribution of health literacy among Canadian adults and the public policy implications of this information.
Health literacy portal. Canadian Public Health Agency. http://www.cpha.ca/en/portals/h-l.aspx
Access to key information about health literacy in Canada.
How does literacy affect the health of Canadians? A profile paper Burt Perrin, Health Canada, 1998. http://www.nald.ca/library/research/howdoes/cover.htm
This paper discusses why the health field should be concerned about literacy, literacy and health status, how literacy affects health, and what can be done.
State of learning in Canada: no time for complacency. Canadian Council on Learning, 2007.
This issue of the annual report takes a special look at the link between health and learning.
A vision for a health literate Canada: report of the expert panel on health literacy. Irving Rootman & Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety. Canadian Public Health Agency, 2008. http://www.cpha.ca/uploads/portals/h-l/report_e.pdf
Health literacy: making the connection (DVD). Produced by the Nova Scotia Departments of Health and Education, 2004.
This DVD highlights the impact of limited literacy on health and suggests ways in which health providers can provide information. Aimed at practitioners, it reviews issues of health literacy and consumers’ needs. Two version: one 18 minutes long, one 6 minutes long.
Health literacy audit.
Developed and written by Terri Peters. Literacy Alberta. 2008.
Using checklists, staff in health organizations can assess how effectively they communicate with their clients.
Health literacy special collection: tools and resources for health literacy initiatives. World Education, 2009-. http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/
Health literacy studies. Harvard School of Public Health, 2010- http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/
Includes an overview of health literacy, research findings, policy reports, practice strategies and tools, and resources.
Literacy and health: defining links and developing partnerships. By Charles Moody. Literacy Partners of Manitoba, 2003. http://www.plainlanguage.mb.literacy.ca/resources/LiteracyandHealthmanual.pdf
This workshop manual introduces health providers to the links between literacy and health and offers strategies for reaching clients with low literacy skills. Includes suggestions for adult literacy practitioners.
Literacy and health: the importance of higher-level literacy skills: a discussion paper for Inuit communities. Mary Korhonen, January 2006. National Aboriginal Health Organization. http://www.naho.ca/inuitO/english/documents/LiteracyandHealth-Final.pdf
This paper discusses the importance of high-level reading skills in health decisions, healthy lifestyles and healthy communities.
Five guidelines for developing customer-friendly websites. Maximus, Inc. Columbia, SC: Southern Institute on Children and Families, 2006.
Suggestions for developing accessible websites for health programs. While it is written for the American health care system, the guidelines are generally useful.
The health literacy style manual. Maximus, Inc. Columbia, SC: Southern Institute on Children and Families, 2005.
A collection of suggestions for developing and improving health-related print materials.
Making it clear: a clear language and design screen and clear language checklist. Canadian Labour Congress, 2007. Also available online at http://www.nald.ca/library/learning/clc/checklist/cover.htm
A useful design screen and checklist to help in the preparation of clear language materials.
National Literacy and Health Plain Language Service (Canadian Public Health Association) http://www.pls.cpha.ca/english/start.htm
CPHA offers various services including assessing and revising text or creating plain language text.
Plain language: a promising strategy for clearly communicating health information and improving health literacy. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, 2005. http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/plainlanguage/
Reviews plain language and health literacy terms, dispels myths of plain language and low literacy, and discusses communication barriers that plain language alone cannot overcome, summarizes evidence of plain language as a promising strategy in health information communication. Includes list of resources.
Successful communication toolkit: literacy and you. Communication Canada, 2003. Also available online at http://library.nald.ca/learning/item/4983
This resource includes two books, “Case Studies” and a “Tool kit.”
Writing health information for patients and families: a guide to creating patient education materials that are easy to read, understand and use. 2nd ed.
By Liz Wizowski, Theresa Harper & Tracy Hutchings. Hamilton Health Sciences, 2006.
Shows how to write and design plain language materials and how to plan and evaluate the process. Issues related to using the Internet for patient education are discussed. Reproducible materials include planning guide, checklist for patient education materials, and patient/family evaluation form.
Baby basics: your month-by-month guide to a healthy pregnancy. By Naomi Rand & Alice Greenwood. The What to Expect Foundation, 2002.
The communication toolkit: using information to get high quality care. National Business Group on Health, 2009. http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/usinginformation/Default.aspx
Designed for employers, this website has compiled a collection of links to free health care communication materials.
Culture, health and literacy: a guide to health education materials for adults with limited English literacy skills. Written by Julie McKinney and Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi. 2000. Also available online at http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/docs/culture/
Many materials are in languages other than English.
Doctor for literacy and low 1. By Donna Bowler. Vancouver, BC: successintesl, 2010.
This teacher’s manual includes four readers plus student handout and activity masters for a unit on visiting the doctor for literacy/low 1 level students. Activities, techniques and sample lesson plan included.
Emotional wellness: Mary’s story. Dr. George S. Renfrey. Owen Sound, ON: Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2007.
This learning resource about emotional well-being is told in the form of a story.
Family health and literacy: a guide to easy-to-read health education materials and web sites for families. Julie McKinney and Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi, 2006. http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/docs/family/fhl.pdf
This guide is designed to help integrate health and literacy education in family literacy programs.
Family literacy and health. Janet Shively, Suzanne Dionne-Coster & Lorri Sauvé. (2007). http://www.nald.ca/library/research/famlithea/cover.htm
This module of the Centre for Family Literacy’s “Foundations in Family Literacy” explores the relationship between health literacy and family literacy, and looks at ways that health and family literacy practitioners can work together to address common concerns.
The gathering tree. By Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden; illustrated by Heather D. Holmwood. BC: Theytus Books, 2005.
A gentle positive story of a family facing HIV, told in a rural First Nations setting. Includes student materials for students, teachers, parents, health educators, etc.
Great beginnings: about pregnancy and parenting : advice from real people. Written by Michelle Margarit and Deanna Dobson. 2002. Also available online at http://www.nald.ca/clr/great/cover.htm
This book was put together with the help of several groups of new and expecting moms from Cumberland County.
Health: the big picture. Cynthia Peters, ed. New England Literacy Resource Centre.
This issue of the Change Agent focuses on health. Short articles, cartoons, and activities present information about health care issues. Designed for intermediate level ESOL and ABE.
A health literacy manual for older adults. Nova Scotia Department of Seniors, 2006. http://www.nald.ca/library/learning/hlmoa/cover.htm
This manual includes eight health literacy lesson plans to be used by tutors and health educators working with seniors.
Health literacy portal. Canadian Public Health Agency. http://www.cpha.ca/en/portals/h-l.aspx
Guidelines on choosing online health materials and some suggested links.
Health literacy special collection: tools and resources for health literacy initiatives. World Education, 2009-. http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/
An invited threat: diabetes prevention comic book. Steven Keewatin Sanderson. Healthy Aboriginal Network. 2008.
This story was focus group tested with youth and health professionals for its ability to convey the idea of what is, and what is not, healthy food.
Living with stress. Living with grief and loss. Living with healthy relationships.
Judy Murphy. Edmonton, AB: Grass Roots Press, 2009.
These books are part of the Easy-to-read health series.
Meals for good health manual. Karen M. Graham. 1999.
A plain language recipe book with provides economical and simple recipes.
Research-based health literacy materials and instruction guide. National Institute for Literacy, 2010. http://www.nifl.gov/health/health
Comprehensive health literacy materials that integrate literacy skills and practice with pertinent health information. Specifically intended for beginning ABE and ESL learners. Includes instruction guide.
Simply health Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute.
Sneezes and diseases: a resource book for caregivers & parents. Vancouver Coastal Health, 2008. http://www.vch.ca/media/SneezesDiseases.pdf
A resource manual about common childhood diseases, adapted in plain language.
Stress management: self-care handbook. Channing L. Bete Company, 2005.
This handbook includes dozens of useful tips for reducing stress.
Success in seeing the doctor. Donna Bowler. Vancouver: successintesl, 2008.
Designed for ESL students, this workbook and teacher’s guide include topics such as making an appointment, going for a check up, filling out forms, listening to the doctor. Includes audio CDs.
Sweetness in life: the diabetes story. (4 DVDs) Produced in association with Saskatchewan Communication Network and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, 2002.
Vocabulary boosters: workbooks. (I, II & III) Susan Rogers. Grassroots Press, 2005.
This workbook aims to help adult learners develop their vocabulary through reading passages and then doing practice exercises. The workbook includes a section on health.
What the HEALTH!: a literacy and health resource for youth. Prepared by the Canadian Public Health Association, 2000.
Designed for use by people who teach, guide and support young people in a wide range of roles and environments: in literacy programs, schools, youth-serving agencies, community services and health care settings.
Adult Working Group’s cross-national consultations on health and learning. Sue Folinsbee et al. Canadian Council on Learning, 2007. http://www.nald.ca/library/research/hlkc/finalrpt/cover.htm
Research focused on adults with low literacy skills and immigrants and refugees. Presents results from consultations and recommendations.
Adults living with limited literacy and chronic illness: patient education experiences. Judy King & Maurice C. Taylor. Adult Basic Education and Literacy Journal, 4(1), 24-33. http://www.nald.ca/library/research/mtaylor/patient/patient.pdf
This study investigates how Canadians with limited literacy skills make sense of their patient-education experiences.
Feasibility study on literacy and mental health.
Chris Harwood, Mary Wiggin, Ottawa Community Coalition for Literacy. http://www.occl.ca/pubs/feastudy/feastudy.pdf
The purpose of this study was to enable literacy and mental health agencies to develop strategies to help adults who have serious mental illness as well as literacy needs. Includes a number of best practice suggestions and recommendations.
Literacy and health research in Canada: where have we been and where should we go. First edition prepared by Irving Rootman and Barbara Ronson, 2003. http://www.nald.ca/library/research/lithlthe/clearlng/cover.htm
This report covers past and current literacy and health needs in Canada, what the research tells us, and what can help in the future.
Clear language edition by Elsie Petch, Barbara Ronson & Irving Rootman, 2004. http://www.cpha.ca/uploads/portals/h-l/literacy_e.pdf
Mental health literacy in Canada: phase one report: mental health literacy project. Prepared by Beverley Bourget and Richard Chenier. Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, 2007. http://www.nald.ca/library/research/mhl/cover.htm
Working together on literacy and health research: final report. (University of Victoria, Centre for Community Health Promotion Research) 2005 National Summer Institute http://www.cpha.ca/uploads/portals/h-l/si-fin05_e.pdf
Contact Literacy BC to borrow these and other resources:
Telephone 604-684-0624 or toll free in BC 1-888-732-3234. Fax 604-684-8520
Email library@literacy.bc.ca
