In healthcare, it is important to remember that our patients may not understand the information or teaching we share with them. You can help to improve understanding by communicating clearly. This helps everyone — not just those who may struggle to understand health information.
There are numerous guides and resources available to help clinical teams support patient and care partner learning. From these, we’ve made a list of communication tools that can best help you strengthen your ‘at the bedside’ teaching just in time for health literacy month this October!
Communication Tools
- Learn about why it’s important for clinical teams to consider the language they use and its impact on advancing health equity.
Resource: Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and Concepts
Authors: American Medical Association, AAMC Center for Health Justice
Link: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-aamc-equity-guide.pdf
- Learn how to use gender inclusive language with new clients in a clinical setting.
Resource: Gender Inclusive Language – Clinical settings with new clients
Authors: Trans Care BC
Link: https://www.transcarebc.ca/sites/default/files/2024-03/Gender_Inclusive_Language_Clinical.pdf
- Learn about gender inclusive language in any setting.
Resource: Inclusive and Affirming Language Tips
Authors: Egale Canada
Link: https://egale.ca/awareness/affirming-and-inclusive-language/
- Watch a short 2-minute video about medical jargon and how to communicate effectively and simply.
Resource: Keep It Simple for Safety - Don't Use Jargon
Authors: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBZjpy3ibs&t
- Read a short, straightforward guide to help improve written communication intended for patients and care partners.
Resource: Guidelines for Effective Writing
Authors: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Link: https://www.cms.gov/training-education/learn/find-tools-to-help-you-help-others/guidelines-for-effective-writing
- Learn how to easily sharpen your health literacy skill set with these strategies.
Resource: Easy ways to build health literacy into your daily routines
Authors: Library Services
Link: https://library.nshealth.ca/blogs/Home/News/Easy-ways-to-build-health-literacy-into-your-daily-routines
- This free, 20-minute, online learning module can help you learn to identify and use key elements of teach-back and plain language to promote health equity, safety, and quality, and advance organizational health literacy.
Resource: Always Use Teach-back! Interactive Learning Module
Authors: Abrams MA, Nielsen GA, Wilson A. Always Use Teach-back! Toolkit. 2024. https://teachbacktraining.org
Link: https://teachbacktraining.org/teach-back-interactive-learning-module/
- Use tips from this resource to optimize care and improve provider-patient communication with older patients.
Resource: Talking With Your Older Patients
Authors: National Institute on Aging
Link: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/health-care-professionals-information/talking-your-older-patients
- Bookmark this list of plain language substitutes and easy explanations to use in your conversations or written content.
Resource: Plain Language Replacements
Authors: Library Services’ Patient Education Team
Link: https://library.nshealth.ca/ld.php?content_id=37381737
When patients, families, and support persons understand the information being shared with them, they can make more informed and meaningful decisions about their care and treatment, in collaboration with their healthcare team.
Gear up for health literacy month this October by sharing this resource list with your colleagues or team today!
Learn more about Health Literacy in the Content Creator Toolkit: https://library.nshealth.ca/Patient-Education-Resources/Health-Literacy
Kallen Rutledge
Librarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets Lead
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone