AETC National Resource Center


	participating institutions: Johns Hopkins University AIDS Service, New York State DOH AIDS Institute, The CORE Center, Cook County Hospital

PATIENT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS:
EVALUATION CRITERIA

evaluation criteria directions for submitting materials
reviews reviewed and endorsed materials

The patient education material review process places emphasis on evaluations from persons living with HIV/AIDS and scientific and technical review by experts in the field of HIV/AIDS treatment and care. Materials successfully completing all stages of review are posted in the Reviewed and Endorsed section of the NRC website.

The review process involves:

Content review conducted by professionals in the field of HIV/AIDS treatment and care. Content review criteria are:
- scientific accuracy
- currency
- target audience
- scope

Content review results in one of the following three outcomes, "accept", "accept with minor revisions" or "reject."

Administrative review for all materials successfully meeting the "accepted" or "accepted with minor revisions" content review criteria. The administrative review includes a reading level assessment using the SMOG test to assign a grade level or reading difficulty level to the material. The administrative review also provides information about the development of each material and its availability and/or ordering information.

Consumer review allows for assessment of a material's relevance, usefulness and readability by the target audience - persons living with HIV. This review is conducted by persons living with HIV from across the country and may take place in various forums - by phone interviews; in person interviews; written questionnaires; or focus groups. Three to five consumers review each material.

Please note that the following material will not be reviewed as part of the NRC patient education materials initiative: (1) Materials overtly promoting, for the purposes of profit, a drug or drug(s) for the treatment of HIV to the exclusion of other, comparable drugs; (2) Materials emphasizing HIV prevention rather than HIV treatment and care issues; (3) Outdated versions of material that has since been updated or has already entered the NRC review process; or (4) resource lists - national, state or local; magazines, newsletters or other regularly published bulletins for patients; or publications promoting or advertising health services, support groups, etc.

For more detailed information about the review process, or to request a copy of the evaluation forms, contact the NRC Coordinator at the NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute by e-mail at: aetcnrc@health.state.ny.us or by phone at: (518) 474-3459.

Physicians and other health care professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm the information contained in this site because no single reference or service can take the place of medical training, education, and experience. Consumers are cautioned that this site is not intended to provide medical advice about any specific medical condition they may have or treatment they may need, and they are encouraged to call or see their physician or other health care provider promptly with any health related questions they may have.