Plain language: a strategic response to the health literacy challenge.
Low health literacy is a major challenge confronting American and international health organizations. Research in the past decade has documented the prevalence of limited literacy and limited health literacy skills among adults worldwide. This creates a major policy challenge: how to create text-based health information - a common method of health communication - that is accessible to the public. Plain language is a logical, flexible response. While touted by American, Canadian, and European health policy makers, adoption and promotion of plain language standards and skills in health-focused organizations have lagged. Most text-based health information continues to be too hard for most adults to read. Barriers to more rapid diffusion of plain language are reflected in a set of myths perpetuated by critics. These myths are identified and refuted. While plain language is only one of many broad-based solutions needed to address low health literacy, the benefits to everyone demand increased use by health organizations.
Stableford
Sue
S
AHEC Health Literacy Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA. sstableford@une.edu
Mettger
Wendy
W
D003142:Communication; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007802:Language; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D014481:United States; D016270:United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality