10.2190/SH.4.1-2.f JG814281057411W5 5 Online Materials Provided to Public by Mother-Support Groups in Breastfeeding: Observations on Readability and Access 69 77 20080613 20080613 20080613 20080613 JG814281057411W5.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=JG814281057411W5 1 Virginia Thorley University of Queensland The Internet has developed as a medium for linking people to share support and information, particularly when family responsibilities, disabilities, age, or geography isolate them from a relevant peer group. However, poor literacy limits access to online searches and communication. Internet users may sometimes download and print out information materials for others without Internet access, who may or may not be proficient readers. Functional illiteracy is often unrecognized and it has been recommended that health informational materials be pitched at Grades 5 or 6 reading levels. This article examines the readability scores of a selection of short informational materials in English, available for download on the Websites of self-help organizations for breastfeeding mothers. Coreil, J., Bryant, C. A., Westover, B. J., & Bailey, D. (1995). Health professionals and breastfeeding counseling: Client and provider views. <i>Journal of Human Lactation</i>, 11(4), 267. Dornan, B. A., & Oermann, M. H. (2006). Evaluation of breastfeeding Web sites for patient education. <i>MCN American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing</i>, 31(1), 18-23. Gribble, K. D. (2001). Mother-to-mother support for women breastfeeding in unusual circumstances: A new method for an old model. <i>Breastfeeding Review</i>, 9(3), 13-19. Harvey, H. D., & Fleming, P. (2003). The readability and audience acceptance of printed health promotion materials used by environmental health departments. <i>Journal of Environmental Health</i>, 65(6), 22-28. Madara, E. J. (1999-2000). From church basements to World Wide Web sites: The growth of self-help support groups online. <i>International Journal of Self Help & Self Care</i>, 1(1), pp. 37-48. Marcus, E. N. (2006). The silent epidemic—The health effects of illiteracy. <i>New England Journal of Medicine</i>, 355(4), 339-341. McLaughlin, G. H. (1969). SMOG-grading—New readability formula. <i>Journal of Reading</i>, 12(8), 639-646. Singh, J. (2003). Reading grade level and readability of printed cancer education materials. <i>Oncology Nursing Forum</i>, 30(5), 867-870. Thorley, V. (2004). Readability of selected breastfeeding information for mothers: Late-20th century. <i>Birth Issues</i>, 13(1), 11-17. Thorley, V. (2006). Readability of selected breastfeeding information for mothers: Early twenty-first century. <i>Birth Issues</i>, 15(2), 47-53. Wilson, F. L., Racine, E., Tekieli, V., & Williams, V. (2003). Literacy, readability and cultural barriers: Critical factors to consider when educating older African Americans about anticoagulation therapy. <i>Journal of Clinical Nursing</i>, 12(2), 275-282. National Institute for Literacy. (2003). 2003 national assessment of adult literacy (NAAL): A first look at the literacy of America's adults in the 21st century. December 15, 2005. Audio available at <a target="_blank" href='http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/20051215/webcast12-15.html'>http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/20051215/webcast12-15.html</a> Rudd, R. E., Moeykans, B. A., & Colton, T. C. (1999). Health and literacy: A review of medical and public health literature. In J. Comings, B. Garner, & C. Smith (Eds.), <i>Annual review of adult learning and literacy. Vol 1.</i> [USA]: National Center for the Study of Adult Learning/Jossey-Bass, 1999. Accessible at: <a target="_blank" href='http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~ncsall/ann_rev/vol1_5.html'>http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~ncsall/ann_rev/vol1_5.html</a> Salem, D. A., & Bogat, G. A. (1999-2000). Characteristics of an on-line mutual-help group for depression. <i>International Journal of Self Help & Self Care</i>, 1(3), 247-265.