This study assesses educational materials developed for the All Nations Breath of Life smoking cessation program (targeted for American Indians and Alaska Natives) for scientific accuracy, readability and other literacy factors, and cultural appropriateness. The authors used a scientific review panel of experts in smoking cessation representing epidemiology, medicine, and psychology; the suitability assessment of materials (SAM) and the simplified measure of gobbledygook (SMOG) reading grade level formulas; and review by Native program facilitators and pilot participants. Materials were scientifically accurate and culturally appropriate. The mean SAM score was 80% (superior rating), and the average reading grade level was 7.1 using the Fry formula (part of the SAM) and 8.4 using the SMOG formula (difference was not statistically significant). Based on this project, the SAM can be used in combination with scientific review and input from community members during formative research to assess and modify educational materials for a targeted population.
Ahluwalia, J.S., Okuyemi, K., Nollen, N., Choi, W.S., Kaur, H., Pulvers, K., et al. (2006). The effects of nicotine gum and counseling among African American light smokers: A 2 × 2 factorial design. Addiction, 101(6), 883-891.
2.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2002). Cigarette smoking among adults-United States, 2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 51(29), 642-645.
3.
Chesson, A.L., Jr., Murphy, Peggy W., Arnold, C.L., & Davis T.C. (1998). Presentation and reading level of sleep brochures: Are they appropriate for sleep disorders patients?SLEEP, 21(4), 406-411.
4.
Choi, W., Ahluwalia, J.S., & Nazir, N. (2002). Adolescent quitting: Implications for relapse-sensitive interventions. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine , 156, 625-626.
5.
Choi, W.S., Daley, C.M., James, A.S., Thomas, J., Schupbach, R., Segraves, M., et al. (2006). Beliefs and attitudes regarding smoking cessation among American Indians: A pilot study. Ethnicity and Disease, 16(1), 35-40.
6.
Choi, W., Harris, K.J., & Grobe, J. (2003). The influence of tobacco marketing on college students. Evidence-Based Preventive Medicine, 1(1), 31-36.
7.
Choi, W., Harris, K.J., Okuyemi, K., & Ahluwalia, J.S. (2003). Predictors of smoking initiation among college-bound high school students. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 26(1), 69-74.
8.
Choi, W., Okuyemi, K.S., Ahluwalia, H.K., & Ahluwalia, J.S. (2004). Comparison of smoking relapse curves among African-American light and heavy smokers. Addictive Behaviors, 29, 1679-1683.
9.
Daley, C.M., James, A.S., Barnoskie, R., Segraves, M., Schupbach, R., & Choi, W.S. (2006). "Tobacco has a purpose, not just a past": Feasibility of developing a culturally appropriate smoking cessation program for a pan-tribal Native population. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 20(4), 421-440.
10.
Doak, C.C., Doak, L.G., & Root, J.H. (1994, November). Suitability assessment of materials (SAM). Paper presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
11.
Doak, C.C., Doak, L.G., & Root, J.H. (1996). Teaching patients with low literacy skills. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott.
12.
Ellerbeck, E.F., Choi, W.S., McCarter, K., Jolicoeur, D.G., Greiner, A., & Ahluwalia, J.S. (2003). Impact of patient characteristics on physician's smoking cessation strategies. Preventive Medicine , 36(4), 464-470.
13.
Fry, E. (1977). Fry's readability graph: Clarifications, validity, and extensions to level 17. Journal of Reading, 1977, 242-252.
14.
Gohdes, D., Harwell, T.S., Cummings, S., Moore, K.R., Smilie, J.G., & Helgerson, S.D. (2002). Smoking cessation and prevention: An urgent public health priority for American Indians in the Northern Plains . Public Health Reports, 117, 281-290.
15.
Hodge, F.S., Fredericks, L., & Kipnis, P. (1999). "It's Your Life-It's Our Future" stop smoking project. In C. S. A. H. Glover & F. Schanche (Ed.), Native outreach: A report to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities (NIH Publication 98-4341; pp. 67-74). Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute.
16.
Kaphingst, K.A., Rudd, R.E., DeJong, W., & Daltroy, L. (2004). Literacy demands of product information intended to supplement television direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements . Patient Education and Counseling, 55, 293-300.
17.
McGinnis, J.M., & Foege, W.H. (1993). Actual causes of death in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 270(18), 2207-2212.
18.
McLaughlin, G. (1969). SMOG grading: A new readability formula. Journal of Reading, 12(8), 639-646.
19.
Mead, C.S.C.F. (1991). Readability formulas: Cautions and criteria. Patient Education and Counseling, 17, 153-158.
20.
Murphy, P.W., Chesson, A.L., Berman, S.A., Arnold, C.L., & Galloway, G. (2001). Neurology patient education materials: Do our educational aids fit our patients' needs? Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 33(2), 99-104.
21.
Okuyemi, K., Cox, L.S., Choi, W.S., & Ahulwalia, J.S. (2004, September). Smoking cessation in US ethnic minority populations. Paper presented at VA in the Vanguard: Building on Success in Smoking Cessation.
22.
Rees, C., Ford, J.E., & Sheard, C.E. (2003). Patient information leaflets for prostate cancer: Which leaflets should healthcare professionals recommend? Patient Education and Counseling, 49, 263-272.
23.
Smith, P.T., & Cason, C.L. (1998). Suitability of patient education materials for cardiac catheterization. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 12(4), 140-144.
24.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ( 1998). Tobacco use among US racial/ethnic minority groups-African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics: A report of the surgeon general. Atlanta, GA: Author.
25.
Weintraub, D., Maliski, S.L., Fink, A., Choe, S., & Litwin, M.S. (2004). Suitability of prostate cancer education materials: Applying a standardized assessment tool to currently available materials. Patient Education and Counseling, 55, 275-280.
26.
Wilson, F.L. (1999). The suitability of United States pharmacopoeia dispensory information psychotropic drug leaflets for urban patients with limited reading skills. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 13(4), 204-211.
