Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials
Background: Learner verification and revision (LV&R) is a research methodological approach to inform educational message design with the aim of producing suitable, actionable, and literacy appropriate messages to aid in awareness, adoption of healthy behaviors, and decision-making. It consists o...
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SLACK Incorporated
2021-03-01
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doaj-e8391a9b4492433e81aa6635218bbf1e2021-03-31T16:40:35ZengSLACK IncorporatedHealth Literacy Research and Practice2474-83072021-03-0151e49e5910.3928/24748307-20210201-02Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education MaterialsEnmanuel A. ChavarriaShannon M. ChristyVani N. SimmonsSusan T. VadaparampilClement K. GwedeCathy D. MeadeBackground: Learner verification and revision (LV&R) is a research methodological approach to inform educational message design with the aim of producing suitable, actionable, and literacy appropriate messages to aid in awareness, adoption of healthy behaviors, and decision-making. It consists of a series of participatory steps that engage users throughout materials development, revision, and refinement. This approach is congruent with Healthy People 2030 communication objectives to improve access to information among diverse, multicultural, multilingual populations, and enhance health care quality toward health equity. Brief description of activity: To illustrate LV&R, we describe its use in three cancer education projects that produced targeted information about (1) inherited breast cancer among African Americans (brochure); (2) colorectal cancer screening among Latinos (photo novella and DVD); and (3) smoking-relapse prevention among patients receiving cancer treatment (video). We discuss rationale for its application in the three exemplars and extrapolate lessons learned from our experiences when using this approach. Implementation: A qualitative approach entailing individual or group-based discussions helped to examine the elements of learner verification (i.e., attraction, comprehension, self-efficacy, cultural acceptability, persuasion). The following steps are reported: (1) preparation of materials, interview guide, and recruitment; (2) interviewing of participants; and (3) evaluation of responses. Data were analyzed by use of a coding system that placed participant responses from each of the elements into data summary matrices. Findings informed revisions and refinement of materials. Results: LV&R was effectively applied across the three cancer education projects to enhance the suitability of the materials. As a result, the materials were improved by using clearer, more salient language to enhance comprehension and cultural acceptability, by integrating design elements such as prompts, headers, and stylistic edits to reduce text density, incorporating preferred colors and graphics to improve aesthetic appeal, and including actionable terms and words to bolster motivation and self-efficacy. Lessons learned: Results suggest that LV&R methodology can improve suitability of education materials through systematic, iterative steps that engage diverse, multicultural, multilingual populations. This approach is a critical participa-tory strategy toward health equity, and is appropriate in a variety of education, research, and clinical practice settings to improve health communications. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(1):e49–e59.]https://journals.healio.com/doi/full/10.3928/24748307-20210201-02health literacylearner verification and revision |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Enmanuel A. Chavarria Shannon M. Christy Vani N. Simmons Susan T. Vadaparampil Clement K. Gwede Cathy D. Meade |
spellingShingle |
Enmanuel A. Chavarria Shannon M. Christy Vani N. Simmons Susan T. Vadaparampil Clement K. Gwede Cathy D. Meade Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials Health Literacy Research and Practice health literacy learner verification and revision |
author_facet |
Enmanuel A. Chavarria Shannon M. Christy Vani N. Simmons Susan T. Vadaparampil Clement K. Gwede Cathy D. Meade |
author_sort |
Enmanuel A. Chavarria |
title |
Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials |
title_short |
Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials |
title_full |
Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials |
title_fullStr |
Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials |
title_full_unstemmed |
Learner Verification: A Methodology to Create Suitable Education Materials |
title_sort |
learner verification: a methodology to create suitable education materials |
publisher |
SLACK Incorporated |
series |
Health Literacy Research and Practice |
issn |
2474-8307 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Background: Learner verification and revision (LV&R) is a research methodological approach to inform educational message design with the aim of producing suitable, actionable, and literacy appropriate messages to aid in awareness, adoption of healthy behaviors, and decision-making. It consists of a series of participatory steps that engage users throughout materials development, revision, and refinement. This approach is congruent with Healthy People 2030 communication objectives to improve access to information among diverse, multicultural, multilingual populations, and enhance health care quality toward health equity.
Brief description of activity: To illustrate LV&R, we describe its use in three cancer education projects that produced targeted information about (1) inherited breast cancer among African Americans (brochure); (2) colorectal cancer screening among Latinos (photo novella and DVD); and (3) smoking-relapse prevention among patients receiving cancer treatment (video). We discuss rationale for its application in the three exemplars and extrapolate lessons learned from our experiences when using this approach. Implementation: A qualitative approach entailing individual or group-based discussions helped to examine the elements of learner verification (i.e., attraction, comprehension, self-efficacy, cultural acceptability, persuasion). The following steps are reported: (1) preparation of materials, interview guide, and recruitment; (2) interviewing of participants; and (3) evaluation of responses. Data were analyzed by use of a coding system that placed participant responses from each of the elements into data summary matrices. Findings informed revisions and refinement of materials. Results: LV&R was effectively applied across the three cancer education projects to enhance the suitability of the materials. As a result, the materials were improved by using clearer, more salient language to enhance comprehension and cultural acceptability, by integrating design elements such as prompts, headers, and stylistic edits to reduce text density, incorporating preferred colors and graphics to improve aesthetic appeal, and including actionable terms and words to bolster motivation and self-efficacy. Lessons learned: Results suggest that LV&R methodology can improve suitability of education materials through systematic, iterative steps that engage diverse, multicultural, multilingual populations. This approach is a critical participa-tory strategy toward health equity, and is appropriate in a variety of education, research, and clinical practice settings to improve health communications. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(1):e49–e59.] |
topic |
health literacy learner verification and revision |
url |
https://journals.healio.com/doi/full/10.3928/24748307-20210201-02 |
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