WHAT IS PLAIN LANGUAGE
Plain language is clear, straight forward, and easy to understand. It is not used to condescend or “talk down” to the reader; rather, it is used to make sure that information is fully communicated and understood. In fact, research has shown that even experts in a field prefer simple, jargon-free prose. Thanks to the Plain Writing Act of 2010, government agencies such as the NIH and CDC are now committed to the use of plain language moving forward. Will your organization join them?
Writers of plain English let their audience concentrate on the message instead of being distracted by complicated language. They make sure that their audience understands the message easily.
Professor Robert Eagleson
HEALTH LITERACY
Plain language is especially important when it comes to healthcare communication. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Health Equity, health literacy is “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.” Using plain language to explain medical concepts ensures that all patients will understand your message, regardless of health literacy level, allowing them to be engaged in making the decisions that most affect their health.
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARIES
The European Union Clinical Trials Regulation (EU CTR) 536/2014 requires that any sponsor that conducts a clinical trial in the region submit a “lay summary,” also known as a plain language summary (PLS), of clinical study reports. Other countries, including the United States, will likely follow suit as the industry shifts towards greater transparency and a more patient-centered approach.
Providing PLSs has many benefits: it provides greater transparency into trial results; it reduces the perception of clinical trials as extractive; it allows stakeholders and lawmakers to make more informed decisions; and, most importantly, lets patients (and their families) know what they have been a part of, and helps them to make better decisions about their own next steps. It has also been shown to improve clinical trial recruitment and retention rates.