Home / About WHO / Communicating for health / Understandable / Use plain language; Tactics to apply to make your communications understandable. format documents with plenty of white space so they are easy to read. The Act specifies that "covered documents" are those that: are necessary for obtaining any Federal Government benefit or service, or filing taxes; provide information about any Federal Government benefit or service; or. Plain Language Tools and Resources. Plain Language Thesaurus For Health Communications This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. To practice good writing, communicators need to consider the following steps: WHO fact sheets explain WHO’s global health priorities. . Clear communication, in plain language, about health information and services will help create and promote health literacy. 0 Identify and apply the key principles of plain language 0 Describe the types of literacy and their demands on verbal and written communication 0 Be able to revise writing examples using plain language ... Health Communication 40% to 80% of medical information provided by practitioners is forgotten by patients immediately. This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. Included are 25 reproducible plain language patient education handouts in English and Spanish. • Health services communicate clearly and take account of possible health literacy and numeracy needs. This study used the Delphi Technique to explore how government health communication professionals (n =11) define “plain language” and what they consider to … Communicators must ensure that fact sheets follow a consistent format and are accurate, easy to understand and concise so people can easily: Communicators should follow WHO’s web style guide when developing content for the web. This thesaurus offers plain language equivalents to medical terms, phrases, and references that we often use. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized Tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian Tribes. ... Use plain language. As health communication professionals, we can help. For Health Communications This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. Since only 12% of Americans have proficient health literacy skills, universal precautions are a safe bet. Part of the NIH mission is to reach all Americans with health information they can use and to communicate in a way that helps people to easily understand research results. Further reading The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion hosts the Health Literacy Improvement page , which links to many useful health literacy tools and reports and other Department of Health and Human Service agency health literacy … Health care professionals should practice “universal precautions” when communicating with others.14 This means communicating clearly and in plain language with all patients. Plain Language at NIH external icon National Institutes of Health NIH has established the Clear Communication initiative that focuses on achieving health literacy objectives. Title: Microsoft Word - Thesaurus Draft 3 101007.doc Author: joneskathy Created Date: 10/10/2007 11:09:17 AM Learn more. Therefore, you have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Keep it simple. effective messaging requires clear and plain language rather than abstract phrases such as ‘social determinants of health’ which may not be widely understood and may not engage audiences. Également disponible en français sous le titre : ... ü Use clear, plain language; A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. Plain Language.gov Contains guidelines for creating plain language materials, as well as an overview of the plain language movement and tools for trainers. Plain Language & Health Literacy Websites From The Ohio State University AHEC Clear Health Communication Program. You can search for public health jargon or plain language words and find alternatives and example sentences. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. Using plain language avoids creating barriers that set us apart from the people with whom we are communicating. Our operating agencies already use plain language and train employees in the importance of clear communication. Plain language does not mean removing key technical terms. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Dutch Talking Touch Screen Questionnaire (DTTSQ) was developed in an attempt to meet the needs of low-educated patients by using plain language and adding communication … Our study investigates Swiss insurance leaflets in three languages (French, German and Italian) and aims at evaluating language clarity on the basis of ‘plain language’ guidelines, thus also considering the translation variable. explain to the public how to comply with a requirement that the Federal Government administers or enforces. At any time, and for any lawful Government purpose, the government may monitor, record, and audit your system usage and/or intercept, search and seize any communication or data transiting or stored on this system. When writing for non-experts, WHO communicators and editors can use the Organization’s resource “Using Words That Work”. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  on October 13, 2010. Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. Additionally, the Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires all federal agencies to write "clear government communication that the public can understand and use.” Our agencies already use plain language. This thesaurus offers plain language equivalents to medical terms, phrases, and references that we often use. ; Productive Media, Inc.; Harvard School of Public Health. The law requires federal agencies to use "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use." Use the collection of tools and tips below to help you choose clear, concise and actionable language when writing to patient and caregiver advisors: Learn more about plain language. Put the most important information first, and keep your content direct and to the point. Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. Plain language is the first best solution. ; This can be further supported by: Unauthorized or improper use of this system is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action and/or civil and criminal penalties. Health literacy is defined as the ability to find, understand, and process information to … A3 Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy In this course, we will explore the intersection between health literacy and plain language to promote successful health communication. It is one... Clear & Simple. Choose words that are familiar to your audience. This system is provided for Government-authorized use only. Any communication or data transiting or stored on this system may be disclosed or used for any lawful Government purpose. Use plain language. Glossaries can be a helpful tool to support communication. National Institutes of Health: Plain Language at NIH. They are the most popular pages on the Organization’s website. Office of Clinical and Preventive Services - 08N34 A&B, Office of the Director/Congressional and Legislative Affairs Staff - 08E37A, Office of the Director/Diversity Management and Equal Employment Opportunity Staff - 08E61, Office of the Director/Executive Secretariat Staff - 08E86, Office of the Director/Public Affairs Staff - 08E73, Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes - 08E17, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering - 10N14C, Office of Information Technology - 07E57B, Office of Resource Access and Partnerships - 10E85C, Office of Urban Indian Health Programs - 08E65C, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov, Center for Disease Control’s Plain Language website, Write all new or substantially revised "covered documents" in plain writing. Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate your Health Message by Helen Osborne Contains strategies on how to meet health communication challenges. Plain Language Basics. Canadian Council on Social Determinants of Health. Plain Language For Health Care Professionals To Improve Communication With Patients Date: July 9, 2009 Source: Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies These are the official guidelines for the Plain Writing Act of 2010. FDA’s working groups on risk communication, health literacy, and plain language merged at the beginning of plan development. Determinants of Health GUIDELINES FOR COMMON MESSAGING. Tactics to apply to make your communications understandable. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 defines plain language as:. Plain Language Basics. We developed these guidelines to help you and your agency write clearly, so your users can: Find what they need; Understand what they find; Use what they find to meet their needs; Contents Health Literacy Strategies to Enhance Communication, PediaLink Course The goal of this course is to increase awareness of health literacy among pediatric healthcare providers and … Plain Language. This is better than trying to identify and communicate differently with patients who have low health literacy. Use the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Stacy Robison and Xanthi Scrimgeour, co-founders of CommunicateHealth, an award winning communications … The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a great page explaining the details about plain language. Coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-2019), Coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) ». Plain Language For Health Care Professionals To Improve Communication With Patients Date: July 9, 2009 Source: Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies • People understand health information correctly and can make an informed decision. Clear Communication Health Literacy. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Contains guidelines for creating plain language materials, as well as an overview of the plain language movement and tools for trainers. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. When words are clearly defined, health professionals and members of the lay public can begin a dialogue on common ground.The glossaries included in this page offer examples of how we can translate specialized or complex medical or public health terms into lay language that can be … Federal plain language guidelines. Health literacy is closely related to plain English. PLAIN developed and continues to revise The Federal Plain Language Guidelines to provide updated advice on clear communication. Instead, medical, research, or legal concepts and phrases that must be included in a communication should be explained within the document or in a separate document that defines the complex terms in clear, understandable ways. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. Health Literacy Studies. Source: International Plain Language Federation When drafting a plain language text, there are 5 general areas to consider: Audience and purpose Structure Instead, medical, research, or legal concepts and phrases that must be included in a communication should be explained within the document or in a separate document that defines the complex terms in clear, understandable ways. Plain language is writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly, easily, and completely as possible. What is plain language? Shareable Link. We offer health literacy and plain language writing, editing, training and consulting services to make research, precision medicine, care decisions, system navigation and patient education easier to understand and act on. This warning banner provides privacy and security notices consistent with applicable federal laws, directives, and other federal guidance for accessing this Government system, which includes all devices/storage media attached to this system. Description: "This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Marketing. Everyday Words for Public Health Communication offers expert recommendations from CDC's Health Literacy Council and other agency communicators on how to reduce jargon and improve reader understanding. Source: International Plain Language Federation When drafting a plain language text, there are 5 general areas to consider: Audience and purpose Structure Plain language is clear communication that the general public can easily understand. replaces technical and complex words with everyday language; provides the important information without unnecessary extras Learn more. ; This can be further supported by: A brief explanation of what plain language is and links to resources to support plain language communication. Section navigation ... create a single overarching communication outcome (SOCO) … To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: If people have to read a WHO message several times to understand it, they are not likely to act on the advice and guidance in the message. Think about what people need to know. People are more likely to trust and act on information they understand. Major national health policy groups, including the Institute of Medicine, National Safety Patient Council, and the Joint Commission urge health organizations to use plain language in patient/consumer communication. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. The abstract concepts that underlie SDH must be made tangible with concrete analogies or examples and the judicious use of facts. Plain language communication is utilized across multiple disciplines, 24 and its value is supported by the research behind its development that … Get this from a library! Plain language is a strategy for making written and oral information easier to understand. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a great page explaining the details about plain language. The thesaurus offers plain language alternatives to medical terms, phrases, and references that we often use The resulting Risk Communication and Health Literacy Working Group ;] -- Dramatizes how illiteracy can interfere with good medical care, preventive measures, and can even directly cause illness. While regulations are exempt, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs encourages plain writing in the preambles of regulations. October 23, 2013. Includes the helpful Every Day Words for Public Health Communication tool. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Plain Language. Source: "About Plain Language" from the Plain Language Association International. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it.. Good health literacy means that you, as a health information provider, communicate clearly. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Describes why plain language is a promising strategy for clearly communicating health information and improving health literacy. How to make you communications accessible, Communications capacity building and training. Plain Language Glossaries. Additionally, the Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires all federal agencies to write "clear government communication that the public can understand and use.” Our agencies already use plain language. learn ways they can protect their health and safety, recognize the barriers to improving the health situation, follow the progress of how the health problem has occurred and evolved. For Health Communications This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. Shareable Link. Public health professionals, librarians, clinicians, health writers, and others who communicate health information filled room 507 in the Sackler Center for Medical Education over the Thursday and Friday before spring break for the Plain Language for Health workshop. In plain language : the need for effective communication in medicine and public health. Background: Low-educated patients are disadvantaged in using questionnaires within the health care setting because most health-related questionnaires do not take the educational background of patients into account. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. replaces technical and complex words with everyday language; provides the important information without unnecessary extras Use the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. organize information so the most important points come first; create a single overarching communication outcome (SOCO) that defines the desired outcome, for example, behaviour change; break long and complicated information into understandable portions; use simple language to explain the meaning of technical terms; and. Communicating the Social Determinants of Health Guidelines for Common Messaging. Our operating agencies already use plain language and train employees in the importance of clear communication. Read developing health materials It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon.In many countries, laws mandate that public agencies use plain language to increase access to programs and services. Avoid jargon whenever you can, and define it when you can’t. Alt: Three doodles appear under the terms “Readability,” “Plain Language,” and “Health Literacy.” The first doodle says, “Now THIS looks like somethin’ I’d read!”