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CHC Principles Fact Sheet
Most adults, regardless of education level, want health care information that is
easy to read. Because health information is scientific, it can be hard to understand
all of the brochures about diseases and treatments, medical forms, and even spoken
instructions from doctors, nurses, or pharmacists.
One way that providers and organizations can improve health literacy is to create
easy-to-read materials. The Principles for Clear Health Communication,
developed in partnership by leading health literacy experts Leonard and Cecilia
Doak and Pfizer, provide guidelines for creating health information that is accessible
to a broad consumer audience.
Several steps can be taken to make patient education materials more accessible.
These include:
- Using easy to follow layouts and simple pictures.
- Writing information at an appropriate reading level.
- Replacing complicated medical or technical words with plain language.
- Using pictures and diagrams that clarify written concepts.
- Focusing materials on desired behavior rather than on medical facts.
- Making information culturally sensitive and personally relevant.
Pfizer has committed to including these Principles in the development of its patient-directed
communications, and is encouraging and training other organizations to use the Principles
in the development of their own patient education.
The following Principles for Clear Health Communication help writers and
designers make materials that are easy to read and understand.
- Explain purpose and limit content.
- Involve the reader.
- Make it easy to read.
- Make it look easy to read.
- Select visuals that clarify and motivate.
Download the Pfizer Principles for Clear Health
Communication Handbook in PDF format.
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