Health communication – are you getting your message across?

Health materials can be hard to interpret, which is why effective medical communication is so important. It can help ensure that patients understand their health conditions, treatments, and preventive measures. But, despite these efforts, around half the population still struggles with information that could help them manage their own health¹. Health literacy, which is understanding health information, is crucial for things like taking medications correctly, knowing which health services to use and managing long-term conditions.

Adjusting the way we communicate, tailoring language to match reading level and age, is crucial for making information practical and accessible. Medical information can be complicated, filled with jargon and difficult concepts, so tailoring our approach to the reader’s understanding level is key to ensure clarity. By keeping things simple and straightforward, it helps bridge the gap and make sure everyone can understand the important health information they need. This not only prevents misunderstandings and supports informed decision-making but also boosts overall health literacy.

Making information easier for everyone to understand can encourage better treatment adherence and empowers patients by making them better equipped to follow medical advice. To achieve this, consider the following:

• Age-specific concerns: Different age groups often have unique health concerns and varying levels of understanding, with older adults typically needing information on chronic conditions and younger individuals looking for information on mental health or vaccinations.
• Psychological impact: Clear and simplified communication reduces patient anxiety and stress, helping them feel more in control and empowered to actively manage their health.

So how can we tailor communication based on reading age?

To make health information more accessible, use simple language, and avoid medical jargon and long sentences. It’s helpful to organise content with clear headings, bullet points, and step-by-step instructions to enhance user-friendliness and retention. Stick to everyday words, keep sentences short, and write in the active voice for clarity—like saying "take the pill with water" instead of "the pill should be taken with water". Add relatable examples and analogies to connect medical concepts to everyday experiences, making the information easier to understand and remember.

Adding visuals to clear text can significantly enhance understanding and engagement. Incorporate clear graphics that directly relate to the content and clarify key concepts, with labels and straightforward language to avoid confusion. Adding colour and contrast strategically to highlight important points can also improve readability. These visual elements help make complex information more accessible, reduce patient anxiety, and support better comprehension.

Using tools to test for readability can also be particularly useful:

• Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level can determine the U.S. school grade level required to understand the text.
• The SMOG Index estimates the years of education needed to grasp the material
• The Gunning Fog Index calculates the years of formal education necessary for comprehension.

By using these tools, you can assess and adjust the complexity of your content, making it more suitable for a broader audience and improving overall understanding.

Incorporating interactive elements like quizzes and self-assessments can significantly boost engagement by clarifying concepts and making the material more engaging. Establishing feedback loops by encouraging questions and offering clarification further ensures that the information is well-understood and effectively addresses any doubts.

Lastly, it’s important not to assume everyone has the same level of knowledge. People come from diverse backgrounds and have varying understandings of health topics. Tailor your materials to fit the cultural and social contexts of your audience, making sure the content connects with their real-life experiences and feels relevant to them.

When it comes to sharing health information, speaking in plain language can make a huge difference. Tailoring your message to match your audience's reading level helps make important details easier to grasp. This way, patients feel more empowered and are better able to take action on their health. So, keeping things simple isn’t just helpful—it’s essential!

References

1. Shahid, R., Shoker, M., Chu, L.M. et al. Impact of low health literacy on patients’ health outcomes: a multicenter cohort study. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 1148 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08527-9

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