Plain Language: Tools and Techniques
Plain Language: Tools and TechniquesPeggy Sissel-Phelan,
Ed.D.
Best Practices Working GroupHealth Literacy Section
Arkansas Public Health Association Annual Conference May 12,
2011Se1Outline Introduction of Concepts Rationale for Plain
Language
Health LiteracyBest PracticesPlain Language Skill Building
Resources
Resources
Health Literacy
Definition ~
Need ~
Scope ~Health Literacy
Definition ~ Health literacy is the use of a wide range of
skills that improve the ability of people to act on information in
order to live healthier lives. These skills include reading,
writing, listening, speaking, numeracy, and critical analysis, as
well as communication and interaction skills. Health literacy
allows the public and personnel working in all health-related
contexts to find, understand, evaluate, communicate, and use
information.
(Calgary Charter on Health Literacy, 2008)
Health Literacy
Need ~
97 million adults in U.S. struggle with literacyThats one third
of the U.S. population . . .Half of all adults 16+
Find which foods contain a specific vitaminInterpret a growth
chart or table
Identify a specific location on a mapUse fractionsCannotHealth
Literacy
RaceClassEthnicityEducationIsolation
Poverty Age Gender Cultural beliefs Language Need ~ Health Care
DisparitiesHealth Literacy
Primary CarePreventionAccessDiagnosisTreatment
Specialties Prognosis Insurance Medication Compliance Need ~
Health Care ComplexityHealth Literacy
Need ~ NAAL results for Below Basic Group
37% have a HS or some college education52% speak English as
birth language54% have no physical or mental disabilities
Kutner M et al, Nat Center for Educ Statistics 2005
Health Literacy
Definition ~ Understanding+ Actions = Outcomes
Need ~ Widespread +Immediate
Scope ~ The Public + The personnel in all health-related
areasBest Practice
Practitioners role
- give best possible care - communicate about the care
Practitioners goal
- best possible outcome - patient understanding
Best Practice
Practitioners responsibility
- culturally competent
- assume that everyone may have difficulty understanding
- have knowledge of barriers to care
- create environment that helps all patients understandBest
Practice
Patients have the right to understand health-care information
that is necessary for them to safely care for themselves, and to
choose among available alternatives.
Healthcare providers have a duty to provide information in
simple, clear, and plain language and to check that patients have
understood the information before ending the conversation.
The 2005 White House Conference on Aging; Mini-Conference on
Health Literacy and Health Disparities. Plain Language
- Locate - Form Questions - Understand - Act
is clear and simple
the goal - patients are better able to:
Plain Language
Plain language guidelines have common set of principles
Provider should: - identify the audience - adapt to their needs
and abilities - have clear communication objective.Shohet &
RenaudCritical Analysis on Best Practices in Health
LiteracyCANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTHVolume 97 (S2) pp. S10 -
13 2006Plain Language
COMPLEX
Passive sentencesLong paragraphs
Poly-syllable wordsClinical language
Past/mixed tense
3rd person (they, s/he)
PLAIN
Active sentences
Short paragraphs
Mono or bi-syllable
Colloquial language
Present tense
2nd or 1st person (you, I)
Plain Language
Health language/ Word Choice
- No jargon and technical language
- Use lay terms about health concepts
- Terms clearly defined and explained
- No abbreviations, acronyms and statistics Plain Language
We are disseminating information about.
We are giving out information about
How do you administer the medication?
How do you give the medicine?
This product has an extensive list of symptoms that it
treats
This medicine can help with many things like fever, or pain,
etc.
It s Not Just Medical Terms . . .Plain Language
Written
Oral
VisualSignageIntake formsMedicationsTreatment planSelf care
directivesCommunication styleAdequate timeFeedback loop
PicturesSequenceDemonstrationsVideoPlain Language
Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law No: 111-274) Federal
agencies must use plain writing All covered documents issued to
public
~ Letters, publications, forms, notices, instructions
~ Anything relevant to federal benefits or requirementsPlain
Language Skills
Alternative Words UsingPlain Language
Based on: Plain Language Alternatives for Patient Information
and Consent Materials Copyright Sharon Nancekivell 2002-2007. All
rights reserved. Electronic or print redistribution of this work
for nonprofit purposes is permitted, provided this notice is
attached in its entirety. All unauthorized, for-profit
redistribution is prohibited.
AbdomenStomach /area around stomachAbscessSwollen area filled
with a thick yellow or green liquid called pusPlain Language
Skills
AccompanyGo withAerosolSpraySwallow itClump of bloodBy
mouthBlood clotBiopsy Taking a small bit of tissue to test
Resources
1. Universal Precautions Tool Kit
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/literacy/healthliteracytoolkit.pdf
2. National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy
http://www.health.gov/communication/hlactionplan/pdf/Health_Literacy_Action_Plan.pdf
Universal Precautions Tool Kit
Resources
3. Plain Language Alternatives for Patient Information and
Consent Materials Copyright Sharon Nancekivell 2002-2007.
http://healthcare.partners.org/phsirb/consfrm_files/Plain_Language_Alternatives_for_Patient_Information_and_Consent_Materials.pdf
4. Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative
http://www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com
5. NYU Patient and Family Resource Center
http://www.nyupatientlibrary.org/medcenter/build-skills
Resources
6. Center for Health Care Strategies Health Literacy Fact
Sheetshttp://www.chcs.org/publications3960/publications_show.htm?doc_id=291711
7. Institute for Healthcare Advancementwww.iha4health.orgMichael
Villaire, MSLMDirector, Programs and
[email protected](800) 434-4633 x202
8. American Medical AssociationHealth Literacy Program and
Kitwww. ama-assn.org
Resources
9. Help Your Patients Understand. Video Available from AMA
Foundation http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8035.html
10.
http://www. plainlanguage.gov
