Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Measurement and Instrument Development
Development of the Health Education Level Performance (HELP) Tool
Carol Boswell, RN, EdD and Sharon Cannon, RN, EdD. School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, TX, USA
Learning Objective #1: Discuss the development of the Health Education Level Performance (HELP) tool.
Learning Objective #2: Explain the use of a content validity index methodology for the validation of a prototype tool development process.
Specific Aims:  Health literacy is a critical health problem, which is not totally acknowledged by the health care community.  The rising challenge resulting from the lack of health care compliance compels the validation of a health education performance tool based on health literacy concepts that can be used productively regardless of health care settings or diagnosis throughout the nation. The Health Education Level Performance (HELP) tool is a criterion-referenced measurement instrument.  The tool was developed to meet a need identified for a functional, quick, self-contained health literacy assessment tool for use in the day-to-day delivery of health care.             Research Design and Method:  A prototype HELP tool was developed utilizing a commonly distributed drug information categorical format for patient education handouts.  The HELP tool strives to determine an individual’s ability to comprehend and act on materials at fifth grade level or higher.  From the drug information, ten questions were developed by a group of four investigators to address calculation, comprehension, and reading aspects.  A panel of eight multidisciplinary experts in literacy and health were utilized to establish the initial content validity for these questions used on the prototype tool.  The ten questions were narrowed to six questions through the employment of a content validity index methodology.  Each question was scored based on the relevancy of the question to the anticipated focus of the tool.  Following this phase of the project, a focus group was convened to review the prototype HELP tool for content validity and reliability.  Each member of the focus group completed both the HELP tool and the Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (TOFHLA) tool.  Data are in the final phases of analysis at the present time

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