As the healthcare landscape becomes increasingly complex, companies in the space are facing new challenges. To succeed, not only must they continue to comply with strict regulations, but they also need to communicate to people effectively through design, interaction, and words. Read on to learn how health literacy principles can improve engagement and help increase the likelihood of people’s adherence to treatments and better health outcomes.

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

2. “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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Keep it simple
Say this:
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.
Having
sex
Not this:
Intercourse
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.

6. 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

7. 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.
www.plainlanguage.gov

8. 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.
www.plainlanguage.gov

9. 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.
www.plainlanguage.gov

10. Thank You.
Danielle Spires, Senior Project Manager
www.comradeagency.com