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Clear Communication: A NIH Health Literacy Initiative
The NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) and its 27 component public affairs offices work to connect research with the public. OCPL serves as liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on a number of issues related to health literacy. OCPL has established the NIH “Clear Communication” initiative that focuses on achieving two key objectives of health literacy:
The first phase of the “Clear Communication” program
involves building upon sound research results provided by trans-NIH
programs and activities. OCPL has created a number of resources
to help trans-NIH communicators and health communicators outside
NIH reach audiences ”where they are” and
overcome barriers to health literacy. Health communication is the study and
use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual
and community decisions that enhance health.
Health Literacyhttp://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/healthliteracy.htmHealth literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. [Source: Healthy People 2010] According to the Institute of Medicine, ninety million adult Americans have limited health literacy. Health literacy is a complex phenomenon that involves individuals, families, communities and systems. The concept of health literacy extends to the materials, environments, and challenges specifically associated with disease prevention and health promotion. Health literacy incorporates a range of abilities: reading, comprehending, and analyzing information; decoding instructions, symbols, charts, and diagrams; weighing risks and benefits; and, ultimately, making decisions and taking action.
Several HHS agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Disease Control, have joined together to support research efforts on health literacy concepts, theory and interventions as these relate to HHS public health priorities outlined in its HealthierUS and Healthy People 2010 initiatives. Plain Languagehttp://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/plainlanguage.htmPlain language is a strategy for making written and oral information easier to understand. It is one important tool for improving health literacy. Key elements of Plain Language include:
Part of the NIH mission is to reach all Americans with health information they can use, and NIH strives to communicate in a way that helps people to easily understand research results. The importance of Plain Language is underscored by Government-wide directives requiring Federal agencies to incorporate plain language elements in all documents, presentations, and electronic communications intended for the public and to avoid jargon and highly technical language. Clear & Simplehttp://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/clearandsimple.htmFor several years, a publication of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), “Clear & Simple: Developing Effective Print Materials for Low-Literate Readers,” served as a trans-NIH document dedicated to the subject of health literacy. Clear & Simple outlines a process for developing publications for people with limited-literacy skills and features proven principles and a discussion of real life issues that individuals developing low-literacy materials face. The NIH seeks to update and expand “Clear & Simple” for contemporary use and to include in the publication of a number of important resources and materials. Many of these resources are found on the NIH “Clear Communication” Web site. The current version of the document can be accessed online from the NCI Web site. Cultural Competencyhttp://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/culturalcompetency.htmCultural Competency is a strategy that enables organizations to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. Developing and implementing a framework of cultural competence in health systems is an extended process that ultimately serves to reduce health disparities and improve access to high-quality health care. Cultural competence benefits consumers, stakeholders, and communities. Because a number of elements can influence health communication—including behaviors, language, customs, beliefs, and perspectives—cultural competence is also critical for achieving accuracy in medical research. NIH funds and works with researchers nationwide for the development and dissemination of resources designed to enhance cultural competence in health care systems. ![]() Precepts About Health Communications
This page was last reviewed on
May 11, 2009
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