• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권15호
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• pp.6719-6727
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• 2015

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the readability, suitability, and health content of cancer screening information in municipal newspapers in Japan. Materials and Methods: Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) and the framework of Health Belief Model (HBM) were used for assessment of municipal newspapers that were published in central Tokyo (23 wards) from January to December 2013. Results: The mean domain SAM scores of content, literacy demand, and layout/typography were considered superior. The SAM scores of interaction with readers, an indication of the models of desirable actions, and elaboration to enhance readers' self-efficacy were low. According to the HBM coding, messages of medical/clinical severity, of social severity, of social benefits, and of barriers of fear were scarce. Conclusions: The articles were generally well written and suitable. However, learning stimulation/motivation was scarce and the HBM constructs were not fully addressed. Practice implications: Articles can be improved to motivate readers to obtain cancer screening by increasing interaction with readers, introducing models of desirable actions and devices to raise readers' self-efficacy, and providing statements of perceived barriers of fear for pain and time constraints, perceived severity, and social benefits and losses.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.192-199
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• 2024

Background: Safety data sheets (SDSs) are hazard communication materials that accompany chemicals/hazardous products in the workplace. Many SDSs contain dense, technical text, which places considerable comprehension demands on workers, especially those with lower literacy skills. The goal of this study was to assess SDSs for readability, comprehensibility, and suitability (i.e., fit to the target audience). Methods: The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tool assessed SDSs for suitability and readability. We then amended the SAM tool to further assess SDSs for comprehensibility factors. Both the original and amended SAM tool were used to score 45 randomly selected SDSs for content, literacy demand, graphics, and layout/typography. Results: SDSs performed poorly in terms of readability, suitability, and comprehensibility. The mean readability scores were Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (9.6), Gunning Fog index (11.0), Coleman-Liau index (13.7), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook index (10.7), all above the recommended reading level. The original SAM graded SDSs as "not suitable" for suitability and readability. When the amended SAM was used, the mean total SAM score increased, but the SDSs were still considered "not suitable" when adding comprehensibility considerations. The amended SAM tool better identified content-related issues specific to SDSs that make it difficult for a reader to understand the material. Conclusions: In terms of readability, comprehensibility, and suitability, SDSs perform poorly in their primary role as a hazard communication tool, therefore, putting workers at risk. The amended SAM tool could be used when writing SDSs to ensure that the information is more easily understandable for all audiences.

• 감성과학
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2015

전자책이 널리 보급됨에 따라 반사형 디스플레이 기반인 단말기의 수요도 증가하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 책을 읽을 수 있는 종이책, E-ink 전자책, LCD 태블릿의 감성과 독서 상태를 비교했다. E-ink 전자책에 대한 소비자의 감성반응을 알아보기 위해 감성평가 후 독서 장치의 종류에 따른 가독성, 선호도 실험을 수행하였다. 실험은 화면으로만 판단할 수 있도록 마스크를 제작했으며 컨텐츠의 내용만 다르게 설정하고 모든 조건과 환경을 동일하게 하였다. 감성반응 파악을 위한 감성어휘 실험에서는 의미분별법을 활용한 결과 LCD보다 E-ink 전자책을 종이와 가깝게 느끼는 것으로 나타났다. 가독성에 대한 선호도를 알아보기 위한 실험에서는 자기보고식 설문을 한 결과 LCD보다는 E-ink 전자책을 선호하였으며 E-ink 전자책보다는 종이를 선호하거나 비슷하게 선호하는 것으로 나타났다. 사용자들이 E-ink 전자책을 종이와 비슷한 감성을 갖고 있으므로 E-ink 전자책이 종이책을 대체할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.