TABLE 3.

Suitability Assessment of the What Are My Medi-Cal Choices? Guidebook Final Version: California, 2006

Factor to be Rated	SAM Scorea	Comments
Content
Purpose is evident	2	Guidebook purpose is explicitly stated on the cover and inside; each page explicitly states content purpose.
Content about behaviors	2	The guidebook gives concrete ways to accomplish desired behavior changes.
Scope is limited	2	Guidebook is limited to very specific information; each 2-page chapter treats 1 aspect of that focus.
Summary or review included	2	The main message is summarized on each page either in a vignette or in a question-and-answer format.
Literacy demand
Reading grade level	1	Readability assessed at 6th- to 8th-grade level.
Writing style, active voice	2	The guidebook is written in conversational style, active voice, and simple sentences.
Vocabulary uses common words	2	Common words are used and technical and jargon words are defined with simple explanations.
Context is given first	2	Each chapter starts with a 1–3 sentence introduction to provide the context of that chapter.
Learning aids via “road signs”	2	Each topic has its own header, which serves as a guide to what the following information will include.
Graphics
Cover graphic shows purpose	2	The cover has bright colors, large font, and photographs of adults representing target audiences.
Type of graphics	2	Photos are culturally relevant to the target populations.
Relevance of illustrations	2	Photos are crisp and free of distracters, and show people making health care decisions.
Explanations of lists, tables, etc.	2	All bulleted lists have a relevant title and explanation.
Captions for graphics	2	Each photograph has a relevant title and vignette.
Layout and typography
Layout factors	2	Layout is consistent among chapters, including colors and shading, plentiful white space (50% on many pages), line length of less than 30 characters and spaces, high contrast between type and paper, and interior pages are not glossy.
Typography	2	Text type is in uppercase and lowercase serif; type is minimum 15 point; bolding used for key points; “all caps” is not used.
Subheads (“chunking”) used	2	All lists have subheads, and most comprise no more than 5 items.
Learning stimulation, motivation
Interaction used	1	Question-and-answer format is used in each chapter.
Behaviors are modeled and specific	2	Photographs and accompanying vignettes model specific desired behaviors.
Motivation and self-efficacy	2	Complex topics are divided into 2-page chapters that include topical vignettes or photos and questions and answers to aid comprehension and self-efficacy.
Cultural appropriateness
Match in logic, language, experience	2	Examples and concepts are culturally similar to those of the target populations; guidebooks are in 3 languages.
Cultural images and examples	2	Photographs include positive views of racially/ethnically diverse groups and people with a variety of disabilities.

Note. SAM = Suitability Assessment of Materials. The total SAM score was 42 out of a possible 44 (95%).

^a2 = superior rating; 1 = adequate rating; 0 = not suitable rating.