|
Health in Plain Terms:Talking to Patients and Other Consumers
Low health literacy is surprisingly common and increasingly linked to poorer health outcomes. Communicating in a way that is accessible to patients is an important step toward improving their health and helping them to take a more active role in their own care. Below are some tools and resources to help doctors and other health care providers communicate with their patients.
Health Literacy Tools and Information
Clear Communication
Talking With Patients
Training Resources and Materials
Clear Communication
Principles for Written Communication (PDF)
The Alliance uses these guidelines and recommends that health providers, employers and others also use them in all consumer-oriented materials.
(Source: Puget Sound Health Alliance)
Readability Toolkit (PDF)
This toolkit is designed to help create clearly written consent forms for people participating in medical studies. But it includes resources that are useful for a variety of health communications, such as alternative wording suggestions (PDF) and an editing checklist. The group that developed the toolkit, the Project to Review and Improve Study Materials (PRISM), also offers editing services and workshops. For more information, email PRISM@ghc.org.
(Source: Group Health Center for Health Studies)
Plain Talk
Help for writing in plain terms.
(Source: State of Washington)
Plain Language
Federal Agencies' work on clear communication.
(Source: Interagency Committee on Government Information)
Talking With Patients
Health Literacy Kit
Instructional video and manual for clinicians on communicating with patients. Includes self-study Continuing Medical Education kit.
(Source: American Medical Association Foundation)
AskMe3
Health literacy information and communication resources for providers.
(Source: Partnership for Clear Health Communication)
Low Literacy Prevalence Calculator
Estimate what portion of your patients face health literacy challenges.
(Source: Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative)
Health Literacy Assessment Tool
This tool, available in English in Spanish, is a three-minute test built around the task of reading a food label that helps you assess patients' risk for low health literacy.
(Source: Newest Vital Sign, Pfizer)
Training Resources and Materials
Health Literacy Improvement
A list of government tools, resources and research.
(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Information Rx Tool Kit
Outline for a campaign to promote "prescriptions" for consumer-friendly health information available on the MedlinePlus website. Includes free materials such as prescription pads featuring a list of health conditions and the MedlinePlus web address.
(Source: National Network of Libraries of Medicine)
Sample Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy
A step-by-step plan for launching a health literacy initiative in a community health center.
(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Literacy Training Materials
Training guides, course outlines, and materials on several health topics, including:
- Chronic Disease Management
- Health Care Access and Navigation
- Disease Prevention and Screening
(Source: National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy)
Health Librarian Information and Resources
Information on defining and assessing the impact of health literacy issues, along with information on the role of the consumer health librarian.
(Source: National Network of Libraries of Medicine)
Consumer and Patient Health Information Section
Forum for librarians in the area of consumer health information; includes newsletter, discussion list and Top 100 websites list.
(Source: Medical Library Association)
Health Literacy Discussions
Topics in this health literacy discussion thread include using pictures in health communications and training for clear communication.
(Source: National Institute for Literacy)
Literacy Network of Washington
Comprehensive information on adult literacy education providers in Washington.
(Source: Literacy Network of Washington)
California Health Literacy Initiative
Provides links to a variety of resources and information, including a list of policies and initiatives around the U.S.
Picture Stories for Health Literacy Education
A series of illustrations and teaching guides targeting those learning English as a second language. Topics include access to health care, medication use, stress and depression.
(Source: Center for Adult English Language Acquisition)
Return to Top
Let us know what you think. If you have other useful tools or information that you believe would be of value to share with people to manage personal health more easily and effectively, let us know. If you find any of these resources particularly helpful or if you have questions or concerns, send us your comments.
|
