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Asthma 1-2-3: A Low Literacy Multimedia Tool to Educate African American Adults About Asthma

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Abstract

Asthma 1-2-3 is a newly-developed low-literacy multimedia education tool designed to promote asthma self-care concepts among African American adults. An expert panel (n = 10) informed content development for the tool. The video script and storyboard imagery were shown to 30 African Americans recruited from the American Lung Association, whose reactions and comments guided further revisions. The final version was pilot tested in three diverse community settings in Chicago to determine the efficacy of Asthma 1-2-3 at improving patient understanding of asthma and its symptoms. In all, 130 adults participated in the pilot test. Knowledge scores significantly improved from pretest to posttest following presentation of the developed tool for subjects across all literacy levels (Pretest: Mean = 4.2 [SD = 1.6]; Posttest: M = 6.8 [SD = 2.0], P < 0.001). Symptom pathophysiology concepts were the least understood. Individuals with low literacy had less total knowledge score gains compared to those with marginal and adequate literacy (1.8, 2.6, and 3.2 respectively; P = 0.002). The multimedia tool significantly improved understanding of asthma. Individuals with limited literacy may require additional instruction, repeated viewing, or added tangible cues (i.e. supplementary print materials) to support knowledge retention. In general, feedback from the target population was particularly helpful in the development of the tool and its initial evaluation, and should be considered as a necessary step in the creation of other patient education materials.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Career Development Award (Wolf: K01 EH000067-01). Authors acknowledge Quinn M. Stephens for his technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Literacy and Learning Program, Center for Communication in Healthcare, Institute for Healthcare Studies, Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Rina M. Sobel, Katherine R. Waite, Elizabeth A. H. Wilson & Michael S. Wolf

  2. Center for Healthcare Equity, Institute for Healthcare Studies, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Sarah S. Rittner

  3. Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 801 Massachusetts Ave, Crosstown Center, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA

    Michael K. Paasche-Orlow

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  1. Rina M. Sobel
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  2. Michael K. Paasche-Orlow
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Correspondence to Rina M. Sobel.

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Sobel, R.M., Paasche-Orlow, M.K., Waite, K.R. et al. Asthma 1-2-3: A Low Literacy Multimedia Tool to Educate African American Adults About Asthma. J Community Health 34, 321–327 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9153-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9153-9

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