Volume 26, Issue 1 - Writing better
Three strategies to help you write clearly for a lay audience
Author: Michelle Guillemard
Abstract
When writing health and medical content for a lay audience, it is important to think beyond simply writing well. Defining your ideal readers, reducing medical jargon, and producing a well-formatted piece of work can all enhance your reader’s understanding. In this article, I explain how these three key strategies will help you write clearer medical content for lay readers. I also give some exercises to help you put these strategies into practice.
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References
- Graham S and Brookey J, Do Patients Understand? Perm J. 2008; 12(3): 67–9.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Quick Guide to Health Literacy [cited 19 Jan 2017]. Available from: https://health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/factsliteracy.htm
- Senelick R. C. Get your doctor to stop using medical jargon [2012 May 25; cited 19 Jan 2017]. Available: Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-c-senelickmd/medical-jargon_b_1450797.html
- Valtorta NK, Kanaan M, Gilbody S, Ronzi S, Hanratty B. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart. 2016;102(13):1009-16.
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