let’s talk about health, baby: health literacy and why it matters

Let’s Talk About Health, Baby Health literacy and why it matters

“Health 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.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Why literacy matters The healthcare landscape is becoming increasingly complex to navigate. It’s now up to individuals to take a more active role in managing their own health. Health literacy can help increase the likelihood of adherence to treatment and better health outcomes.

Use design to improve outcomes

You can make simple changes to your product or service to improve someone’s ability to understand it. Let’s look at a few.

Keep it simple When discussing healthcare, diseases and anatomy, use layman’s terms and examples, not medical jargon. When you can’t simplify or remove information, be sure to clearly explain it.

The US Department of Health & Human Services recommends using language between 3rd and 5th grade reading levels. There are many readability tests available: Fry, Flesh-Kincaid, FOG and SMOG.

Having sex

Say this:

Intercourse Not this:

Be positive

Clearly say what you want people to do, and explain the benefits. Be conversational when writing, and avoid language that sounds judgmental. If you make people feel bad about their current behavior or health situation, they may be less likely to work on improving it.

www.plainlanguage.gov

Limit messages Provide information over time, not all at once. People can only retain a limited amount of information at any given time. If someone is newly diagnosed or suffering from a life threatening illness, the ability to retain and understand information will be lower. Only provide need-to-know information.


Use graphics and color when appropriate

Visual and written cues can help people understand what they need to do. Illustrations reinforce messages and provide visual interest. When using illustrations, be sure they reinforce the key message or behavior you want people to adopt.


Engage your audience The age of managing our own health is here. Create opportunities to engage people with their wellbeing. Ask questions they can answer, or give them activities to track. Provide simple tasks and actions they can adopt for a healthier lifestyle.


Thank You. Danielle Spires, Senior Project Manager

www.comradeagency.com

let’s talk about health, baby: health literacy and why it matters

Design