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Health Literacy: How healthcare professionals can help

This guides defines health literacy and offers ways that health care professionals can assist patients with low health literacy.

Health literacy strategies

Tailor information to cultures, religions, languages

 

Image of My Healthy Plate Image of Spanish My Healthy Plate

 

Health Information in Multiple Languages
  • Provide the most important information first
  • Focus on "need to know" and "need to do"
  • Give specific action steps
  • Use plain language
  • Avoid medical jargon
  • Use the Teach-back method
  • Use the Show-me method
  • Reinforce actionable items with print/visuals

Watch these strategies in action during a clinical encounter. 

 

Writing for Easy Understanding

 

Example of Medicaid Eligibility written in easy to understand language