Is the material medically accurate?
Are all facts correct and current? If an older material is revised, then
information must be updated to reflect recent medical advances and findings.
If cancer facts or statistics are used, they should be specific to Hispanics
whenever possible. Have a medical expert review your final draft. Check
local health departments, medical schools, teaching hospitals, or health
research centers to identify professionals who can advise you on the accuracy
of your material. Medical information can sometimes be altered during revision
or translation, so be sure to have the final draft reviewed. A simple error
in word choice can make your materials medically inaccurate. For example,
there is a large difference between the following two sentences:
Toda mujer mayor de 18 años y sexualmente activa debe hacerse el
Papanicolaou (PAP) cada año. ("Every woman over the age of 18
and sexually active should get a PAP test once a year.")
This sentence is medically inaccurate and potentially harmful.
Toda mujer mayor de 18 años o sexualmente activa debe hacerse el
Papanicolaou (PAP) cada año. ("Every women over the age of 18
or sexually active should get a PAP test once a year.")
This sentence is medically accurate.
Is the material interactive and thus allow for audience involvement?
The material should give the reader a sense of active involvement by providing
realistic and culturally appropriate "how to" advice. This advice
should be for making a behavior change and/or offering specific follow-up
information. A clear course of action is suggested that is clearly within
the readers' capabilities. An example would be calling a free information
line or clinic that has a Spanish-speaking operator. Another example would
be encouraging readers to ask their doctor questions. Information on local
contacts is supplied. If phone numbers are listed for further information,
materials should note whether Spanish-speaking information specialists are available.
Suggestions should be active. For example, the material emphatically encourages
women to get a Pap test rather than just listing the risk factors.
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