Background:
Bereavement care can help individuals adjust to the death of a loved one and fulfil the practical and legal duties required of them. Psychoeducation and information resources are key aspects of bereavement care.
Aim:
This research aimed to review the understandability, actionability, readability and cultural appropriateness of materials currently provided to bereaved individuals within the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD). NBMLHD provides care to a diverse population including Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. It is therefore important that resources are tailored to the needs of the local community.
Methods:
Resources provided to bereaved individuals across the health service were reviewed using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to evaluate understandability and actionability. A score of 70% or above indicates that a resource is understandable and actionable. Readability was assessed using the Sydney Health Literacy Lab editor and the Flesch Kincaid Grade Level, which recommend a Grade 8 reading level.
Relevancy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was reviewed using the ‘Is the resource relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’ checklist. Accessibility for CALD populations was evaluated through the availability of resources in different languages, and the cultural inclusivity of information, resources, and visual aids.
Results:
Twenty print resources were identified and assessed. The materials included education on grief and bereavement (n=8), lists of bereavement resources and services (n=7), practical guides (n=3), a Memorial Day invitation, and an introductory page to a bereavement pack. Most resources were developed by non-profit organisations and NSW government agencies.
The mean PEMAT score for understandability was 60% (range 46%-78%) and actionability was 27% (range 0%-80%). The mean readability grade was 10.8. Three resources scored 1 out of 7 for relevancy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the remaining 17 scored 0. Inclusivity for CALD populations was also minimal: three had diversity represented in visual aids; three had information available in multiple languages; two listed resources for specific cultural groups; and two referenced grief in different cultural contexts.
Conclusion:
This research suggests that bereavement resources in NSW require a high level of literacy and are not inclusive for diverse populations. From a health service perspective, this research highlights the importance of ongoing maintenance and quality review of resources. More broadly the outcomes of this research recommend that government agencies and community organisations consider health literacy, and cultural and linguistic inclusivity when developing resources.