Plain Language for Communicating with Patients – Tips, Tutorials, & Tools

by Patricia F AndersonEmerging Technologies LibrarianUM Health Sciences Librariespfa@umich.edu

Outline

Why

Tips

TutorialsExamples

Tools

CLAD (Clear Language and Design) Certifiate <http://www.eastendliteracy.on.ca/clearlanguageanddesign/>

SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) logo <http://www.harrymclaughlin.com/SMOG.htm>

Plain English Campaign logo <http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/>

Clear Language Group logo <http://www.clearlanguagegroup.com/>

Plain Language.gov logo <http://www.plainlanguage.gov/populartopics/health_literacy/index.cfm>

WordsCount logo <http://www.wordscount.info/>

WHY PLAIN LANGUAGE?

PlainLanguage.gov homepage <http://www.plainlanguage.gov/>

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Plain Language page <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/plainlanguage/PlainLanguage.htm>

Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Roundtable on Health Literacy <http://www.iom.edu/Activities/PublicHealth/HealthLiteracy.aspx>

Healthy People 2010 Health Communication page <http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/volume1/11healthcom.htm>

Department of Health and Human Services tips for improving the usability of health forms and instructions <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/services.htm>

Healthy People 2010 Health Communication Summary of Objectives <http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/volume1/11healthcom.htm#_Toc490471356>

Healthy People 201 Objectives <http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/volume1/11healthcom.htm#_Toc490471357>

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Quick Guide to Health Literacy Improvement Strategies <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/services.htm>

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Quick Guide to Health Literacy Improvement Strategies <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/services.htm>

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Quick Guide to Health Literacy Improvement Strategies <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/healthinfo.htm>

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Quick Guide to Health Literacy Improvement Strategies: Usability <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/healthinfo.htm>

TIPS

Checklist for Improving the Usability of Health Information from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/healthinfo.htm>

MedlinePlus: How to Write Easy-to-Read Health Materials <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/etr.html>

PlainLanguage.gov Popular Topics: Health Literacy <http://www.plainlanguage.gov/populartopics/health_literacy/index.cfm>

State of Washington GMAP (Government Management Accountability & Performance) Plain Talk page <http://www.accountability.wa.gov/plaintalk/>

TUTORIALS

Pfizer’s Clear Health Communication Initiative site <http://www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com/index.html>

Plain Language Online Training <http://www.plainlanguagenetwork.org/plaintrain/index.html>

Harvard School fo Public Health Health Literacy Studies: Guidelines for Using Plain Language at NIH <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/>

EXAMPLES

Allergy tablet information and Drug Facts

PlainLanguage.gov Before-and-After Comparisons <http://plainlanguage.gov>

PlainLanguage.gov Before-and-After Comparisons <http://plainlanguage.gov>

PlainLanguage.gov Before-and-After Comparisons <http://plainlanguage.gov>

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Quick Guide to Health Literacy: Sample informed consent language <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/services.htm>

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Quick Guide to Health Literacy <http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/healthinfo.htm>

THE HARVARD TUTORIAL & TOOLSHighlightshttp://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html

NIH external group interests table

This and the following slides in the section are from The Harvard Tutorial: <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Statement explaining benefits of plain language <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Four starting points to creating plain language materials <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Reading level matched to type of information chart <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Tips for writing clearly <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Word usage suggestions <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Using pronouns to engage the reader <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Words to use to eliminate confusion <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Examples of jargon, which should be avoided <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Use positive words <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Avoid gender-specific words <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Avoid long strings of nouns <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Use active voice <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Use action verbs <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Use present tense when possible <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Be consistent in how you present information <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Be direct <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Avoid using exceptions <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Use headings to guide the reader – question-and-answer format can be especially helpful <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Checklist to ensure clear language <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

Instructions on how to use the S.M.O.G. (simple measure of gobbledegook) <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html>

SMOG <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/clear.html> Conversion Table

TOOLSGlossaries, Thesauri, and Dictionaries

SMOG Calculator <http://www.harrymclaughlin.com/SMOG.htm>

Federal Plain Language Guidelines : Plainlanugage.gov <http://plainlanguage.gov>

Washington State Department of Health Guidelines for Developing Easy-to-Read Health Education Materials <http://www3.doh.wa.gov/here/howto/images/easy2.html>

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Plain Language Thesaurus <http://www.nphic.org/files/editor/file/thesaurus_1007.pdf>

Plain Language Glossary of Preventative Health Terms <http://www.ccah-alliance.org/providerspdfs/PlainLanguageGlossary.pdf>

Glossary of Plain Words <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/how_to/glossary.pdf>

Harvard School of Public Health Health Literacy Studies: Innovative Materials <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/practice/innovative-actions/index.html>

NEW TOOL FROM HSL

Taubman Health Sciences Libraries Plain English Medical Dictionary: http://www.lib.umich.edu/plain-language-dictionary

Taubman Health Sciences Libraries Plain English Medical Dictionary: http://www.lib.umich.edu/plain-language-dictionary

Taubman Health Sciences Libraries Plain English Medical Dictionary: http://www.lib.umich.edu/plain-language-dictionary

This work was performed under a subcontract with the University of Illinois at Chicago and made possible by grant #N01-LM-6-3503 from the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

MORE RESOURCESLinks: http://delicious.com/rosefirerising/plain+languageSlides: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries

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