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Special Parents Section
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New Directions in Health Communication
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Clearinghouse Update
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CHID Online: Database News
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WISE EARS!®Update--Coalition Members
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NIH Pub. No. 00-4202 |
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Plain Language and the Challenge of Health Literacy: New Directions in Health Communication
Health communicators have a lot to consider when developing messages. What does the audience want and need to know about the health topic? Is all the information understandable and scientifically accurate? What's the best way to address the audience? How does one manage all of the unique traits and issues that separate one audience from another? Addressing all of these issues at once is a challenging task.
Two factors health communicators must consider are the literacy skills of their audiences and the readability of the materials they produce. Unfortunately, millions of American adults have literacy problems serious enough to affect their daily lives. On a personal scale, limited literacy can affect a person's ability to follow the directions on a bottle of pills. On a much larger scale, according to a study by the National Academy on an Aging Society, billions of health care dollars are wasted each year because health materials often use language that's too difficult for many Americans to understand. This mismatch between literacy skills and the readability of health publications drains our health resources--by creating more visits to doctors and hospitals--and causes unnecessary suffering.
While the problem is certainly serious, it is not unsolvable. Many people involved in health care believe that using plain language may be one of the answers. Plain language is a style of writing that concentrates on communicating clearly and effectively.
The plain language movement is growing, especially in the legal field. At the national level, a 1998 presidential memorandum on plain language has boosted its popularity. The memorandum requires that all Federal publications explaining benefits, services, or requirements be in plain language by 2002.
Plain language is audience-centered. It speaks directly to the reader, frequently using personal pronouns such as you. Writers use shorter words; simpler, more direct sentences; and active voice. Even the way information is organized in a plain language document may differ significantly from more familiar writing styles. Supporters of plain language believe that using these stylistic devices generates important benefits. In general, plain language makes information more accessible. Also, readers may be more likely to trust the information in a health publication if the writing is more personal. This makes it easier for health communicators to suggest specific actions people can take to improve their health. Plain language also saves money and time. When people understand the directions in their health instructions, they are less likely to need additional visits to the doctor and less likely to develop complications.
How does all this relate to NIDCD? Along with numerous other organizations working to comply with the Federal Government's plain language initiative, NIDCD has been working to make its publications more accessible. Have WISE EARS!®for Life: Protect Yourself and Your Family from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Otitis Media: Facts for Parents are two examples of the move to more reader-friendly language. NIDCD will continue to offer information in clear language.
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Resources for Plain Language and Health Literacy If you are interested in learning more about these strategies, searching the web for "plain language" and "health literacy" will yield many useful resources. A notable resource is the Plain Language Action Network (PLAN), whose site is useful for anyone interested in learning about plain language. Also, the National Library of Medicine has compiled a bibliography of health literacy publications. Also, be sure to visit the NIDCD site frequently for access to a wealth of understandable publications on common disorders. | |