Wayne UNC Patient Guide

QUESTION

Our client, Wayne UNC Health Care, had compiled materials to create a patient handbook for every admitted patient and their families. However, while reviewing, the team noted that the materials were at an upper high school reading level. Per the American Medical Association and the National Institutes of Health recommendations, the readability of patient education materials should not exceed a sixth-grade reading level. This is to ensure all people can understand the information they receive about their health. Wayne UNC enlisted The Jakes Group to make the patient handbook easier to understand for all audiences. 

CREATE

We know there are many wonderful resources out there when it comes to health literacy. Our copywriter has went through health literacy learning modules and utilizes many tools while editing, such as tools from the CDC and the National Institute of Health. 

When editing the content, we kept the following in mind:

• Keep all writing clear and concise.
• Use everyday words (“broken wrist” instead of “fractured wrist”).
• Use an active voice (“We will call you,” instead of “You will receive a phone call”).
• Use short sentences and bullet points when possible.
• Incorporate images and visuals to help get points across. 

ACTIVATE

Through thoughtful editing, we were able to take the patient-facing guide to just under a 6th-grade reading level. Simple changes can be meaningful changes. Some quick examples of updates we made to make the piece more reader-friendly:

• From “courtesy shuttle” to “free shuttle”
• From the section title “Amenities” to “Dining, Gift Shop & Transportation”
• From “The guide below is designed to help you understand some of the common special therapeutic diets your doctor may order” to “These are some of the common special diets your doctor may order”

Often it can be difficult to review your own materials with a “health literacy” lens. The experts at The Jakes Group are here to help. If you are working on patient education materials, we’d love to hear about them. Let’s talk today.