Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Nearly half of U.S. adults read between a 7th- and 8th-grade reading level, but health information is often delivered at a 10th-grade level or higher. October is [Read more]
Conference posters are the most abundant form of scientific communication and frequently the first incursion of scientists-in-training into dissemination — ahead of oral presentations or peer-reviewed papers. For researchers at any career stage, posters are an excellent opportunity to share work in progress, test new ideas, network, and sharpen a variety of communication skills — [Read more]
Our #SciComm Seminars are back this fall with exciting new topics to expand your science communication toolbox. Here are some highlights from the 2022-23 #SciComm Seminars series: Beth Prusaczyk, Assistant Professor of Medicine, drew from her experiences in policymaking and journalism for valuable tips on how to prepare, deliver, and follow up on your advocacy [Read more]
As a researcher, you communicate your work to a wide variety of people daily. Besides engaging in jargon-rich discussions with your peers, you might share your research on a personal website, talk about it at a community event, or write about it on social media. Plain language can help you reach beyond academia and ensure [Read more]
Do you know someone who is passionate about helping scientists effectively share the benefits and impact of their work to diverse audiences?
Have you wondered how to improve the documents and forms your department shares with research participants and patients? Plain language is one of the best tools to ensure your writing is clear and accessible to all. Research shows it can increase research participation, improve adherence, and overall, lead to better health outcomes. A few of [Read more]
Spreading health misinformation can be a matter of life and death. These resources provide shareable, accurate information.
How can we help patients and research participants better navigate numbers? Here are five tips.
Patients highlight listening and empathy – “the ability to understand the patient’s situation, perspective, and feelings and to communicate that understanding to the patient”1 – as two of the most important qualities they look for when choosing a physician. Despite this, studies of patient-physician communication show that physicians interrupt their patients, on average, within the [Read more]
Patient portals are increasingly popular, but can patients understand the content? Check out this study that used the CDC's Clear Communication Index to measure the clarity of content on patient portals. If you're already sharing information on patient portals, ask how our Health Literacy & Plain Language Services can help you create easy-to-read materials to reach [Read more]