The CDC Clear Communication Index Health Education Materials Assessment Tool

Abstract

The health education material assessment tool is an important instrument that media contributors use to reexamine communication elements that are crucial to readers’ understanding of the message. Consequently, readers may be able to identify the key message, then recognize the purpose and/or the concept, and finally put the information into use, which is the indication of a successful communication. Health literacy experts recommend many health education material assessment tools such as The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM)², The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT)³ and the CDC Clear Communication Index⁴. In this article, the CDC Clear Communication Index tool developed from the synthesis of communication elements by the US National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was demonstrated. The tool is trusted and widely used. Furthermore, research has shown that it promotes the clarity and readers' understanding of a key message. However, author team has not yet found implementation of CDC Clear Communication Index in Thai articles, so introducing the material assessment tool has rather been encouraged. The CDC Clear Communication Index in this article has been translated and adapted to fit into Thai context in order to be well practiced on the targeted demographics.