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Ebling Reference
Email: askebling@hsl.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-262-2020
Effective Communication
One of the most essential components of health literacy is engaging in effective communication with your patient. This means communicating in one or more of several ways (whether this be oral, written, or with visuals) that clearly describe the situation to the patient. As the NIH suggests, this may include speaking in plain language, incorporating new technology, and being culturally respectful (NIH, 2019).
- AMA Health Literacy VideoIn this video, consumers with low literacy levels explain how they didn't understand their medications, treatments, doctor's office forms, and surgeries, highlighting the need for better communication with patients.
Expecting and Encouraging Questions
- Encouraging Questions (An Excerpt from AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit)From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- Ask Me 3 MethodA health literacy strategy used by practitioners to help patients understand their situation. This webpage talks briefly about how the strategy is used in the healthcare setting and has some free materials for use.
Using Plain Language
- Clear and SimpleNIH's guide to the "clear and simple" strategy, developed for patients with limited health literacy.
- Plain LanguageNIH's guide to plain language with definition, training, and resources.
- Before & After - plainlanguage.govHere you can find re-written examples that help clarify information in a way that is easily understood.
- Easy-to-Read Health InformationA resource form the NIH that has easy-to-read health handouts.
- Plain Language Medical DictionaryDeveloped by the University of Michigan.
- Simply PutA guide for creating clear written materials, created by the CDC.
- Toolkit for Making Written Materials Clear and EffectiveThis toolkit was developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to help healthcare professionals understand how to put together clear written materials.
Cultural Respect
- Cultural RespectNIH's guide to cultural respect with definitions, Q & A, and more resources.
- MedlinePlus' Health Information in Multiple LanguagesSelect a language you would like health information in from dozens of options.
- Health Information TranslationsThis website, developed by several large hospitals across the U.S., complies a database of health education resources in multiple different languages.
Using a Combination of Teaching Materials
- Choosing Effective Patient Education MaterialsThis NIH resource summarizes the different choices that healthcare professionals have for conveying information to their patients.
- Improving Print Communication to Promote Health LiteracyCreated by the Center for Health Care Strategies.
- Improving Oral Communication to Promote Health LiteracyCreated by the Center for Health Care Strategies.
Using the Teach-Back Method
- Teach-Back Method VideoA short video explaining how to use the teach-back method with patients.
- Teach-Back Method (An Excerpt from AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit)From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- Teach-Back Method ToolkitDeveloped by several hospitals across the nation, this toolkit focuses on one strategy of effective communication, the teach-back method.