Plain language is a strategy for making written and oral information easier to understand. It is one important tool for improving health literacy.

Key elements of Plain Language include:

Organizing information so that the most important points come first
Breaking complex information into understandable chunks
Using simple language and defining technical terms
Using the active voice.

Clear & Simple

Outlines a process for developing publications for people with limited-literacy skills and features proven principles and a discussion of real life issues that individuals developing low-literacy materials face.

Cultural Respect

Cultural Respect is a strategy that enables organizations to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.
Developing and implementing a framework of cultural competence in health systems is an extended process that ultimately serves to reduce health disparities and improve access to high-quality health care.
Cultural respect benefits consumers, stakeholders, and communities. Because a number of elements can influence health communication—including behaviors, language, customs, beliefs, and perspectives—cultural respect is also critical for achieving accuracy

Offer and Confirm Clear Understanding

Offer a clear understanding of what to do to improve one’s health, why is it being done, and, precisely, how to do it.

“This medicine will lower your blood pressure, which will help your heart. You need to take the green tablets, with food. That’s one green tablet every day when you wake up with your breakfast, and one green tablet after dinner and before you go to sleep.”

Confirm the individual has a fundamental understanding of the information exchange (i.e. more than a nod of the head or an uh huh)

For example, “What do you think your risk is of having the complications I mentioned? What are you going to do with that information?”

Using the “teach back” method - having the patient repeat the information back to the provider, can help in ensuring there has been understanding.

Source US Departments of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health

	Created by Lydia Elliott, Ed.D about 8 years ago

CPXP Domain I (Action Recommendations) Note on Domain I Bullet Points (provided by Diane and Peggy). , created by Lydia Elliott, Ed.D on 15/09/2016.