Category: We Heart Health Literacy

Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy Headquarters, we’re all about empowering people to make informed health care decisions. We know that shared decision making — when patients and doctors work together to identify the best treatment plan — promotes positive health outcomes. But even people with plenty of skills and experience navigating health care sometimes leave the doctor’s office feeling confused, defeated, or unheard. 

It’s easy to understand why. Doctor’s appointments are often rushed — and when we’re not feeling well, our capacity to interpret complex health information and respond in real time takes a nosedive. For people who’ve experienced trauma, it’s even harder to access those skills in the moment. And we know that people of color, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience bias and discrimination in the health care system. 

The good news is that there are steps people can take to advocate for themselves at doctor’s appointments. Preparing questions ahead of time is one way to reduce pre-appointment anxiety and make the most of a short visit. Learning a few scripts, or basic phrases, to use in conversation with a doctor can empower people to ask questions, set boundaries, and advocate for their needs — even when they’re feeling overwhelmed. Here are a few self-advocacy scripts to share with your audiences, along with our thoughts on why they can be effective.  

“What information will this test give us?” To make informed decisions about testing (which can be time-consuming, uncomfortable, and expensive), patients need to understand what information the test will provide — and how doctors will use that information. Encourage your audiences to ask questions about any test their doctor recommends.  

“How will this treatment help me?” People are more likely to follow guidance if they understand how the treatment will improve their quality of life. Discussing the intended outcome also helps patients understand what to expect, so they can assess whether a treatment is “working”— and revisit the treatment plan with their doctor if it’s not. 

“Are there other treatment options we can consider?” Remind your audiences that they don’t have to accept the first treatment plan presented to them. Encourage readers to learn about their treatment options and discuss the pros and cons of each one with their doctor before making a decision.   

“What could happen if I don’t get this test or treatment?” With health care costs on the rise, it’s helpful to know if a doctor’s recommendations are nice-to-have or need-to-have. By addressing this question head-on, patients can clarify their options — and learn about the risks of not pursuing a specific test or treatment.  

“Is there anything I can do to manage this side effect?” Encourage readers to discuss any side effects they’re experiencing with their doctor. In some cases, there are simple steps patients can take to make side effects more manageable. And if side effects interfere with everyday life or cause new health issues, a doctor may be able to recommend other treatment options.    

“I’ve found I’m healthier when…” This simple phrase can be a powerful way for patients to set boundaries by clearly expressing what they do or don’t want. For example: “I’ve found I’m healthier when I don’t focus on the number on the scale. Please don’t check my weight when I come in for my next appointment.”  

The bottom line: Many people struggle to speak up for themselves at the doctor’s office. Sharing scripts, or basic phrases, to use during doctor’s appointments can help your readers advocate for their needs. 

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): Speaking up for ourselves can be tricky — especially during health care visits. CommunicateHealth offers simple scripts health communicators can share to help people advocate for their needs at the doctor’s office: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/how-can-health-communicators-support-patient-self-advocacy/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

Dearest gentle reader,

If you’re anything like us, you enjoy a good bingeable TV show. As you may have guessed from the opening line, our latest obsession here at We ❤️ Health Literacy headquarters is Shonda Rhimes’ period drama Bridgerton — or, as we call it around here, Netflix’s 23-hour PSA for why we need comprehensive sex education.

Allow us to explain. The show is full of examples of what can happen if young people don’t understand the fundamental principles of human reproduction because sex, and everything to do with it, is considered uncouth to talk about. And yes, we’re aware that the show is 1, fictional and 2, set in the 1800s where this was par for the course — but looking at recent attempts to restrict comprehensive sex education in schools, it doesn’t seem that far-fetched to draw comparisons to the present day. (Spoiler alert: “Abstinence only” didn’t work back then any better than it does now.)

Here are a few examples. In season 1, Daphne’s lack of knowledge about how exactly babies are made leads to the central misunderstanding with her newly minted husband (the Duke). When her maid eventually fills her in, Daphne uses her newfound knowledge to try and trick her husband into getting her pregnant against his will — which clearly warrants a conversation about consent, an integral part of sex education.

Then there’s Penelope’s sisters, who in season 3 race to produce an heir — only it turns out they’re not quite sure about the mechanics of the baby-making process, which is why their efforts haven’t been successful. While this scene is meant to be comic relief in the show, it takes on a much more serious meaning in a world where a woman’s financial and social standing are inextricably tied to her ability to become pregnant and ensure the line of succession.

Knowledge is power — and that part hasn’t changed, whether it’s about trying to get pregnant or avoiding an unplanned pregnancy. Consider Marina who, in season 1, tries to abort her unwanted pregnancy with a cocktail made of herbs that nearly kills her. And if you think desperate abortion attempts without medical care are a thing of the past, think again. With access to safe, legal abortion being cut in many states, more women are turning to unsafe methods to try and end pregnancies. That’s a throwback to Gregorian times that clearly none of us need.

And finally, the men. Oh, the Bridgerton men, uninhibited by the concern for sexual purity placed upon their female counterparts — and apparently also uninhibited by any thought of spreading sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through their casual sexual encounters (yep, STIs were a thing in Gregorian England). Even today, nearly half of new STI cases happen in teens and young adults. What will help? You guessed it — teaching comprehensive sex education in schools, a strategy that’s proven to lower risky sexual behaviors like unprotected sex in young people.

The bottom line: Bridgerton is fun, fashionable, and fancifully entertaining — but it also touches on some very relevant public health topics. On this note, go forth and watch, dear reader!

Yours truly, Lady Whistledown… errr… your friends at CommunicateHealth.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): It’s TV Club time! CommunicateHealth watches the period drama Bridgerton — and highlights important parallels with today’s public health priorities. Check it out: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/tv-club-bridgerton-or-why-we-need-comprehensive-sex-education

Last month was Family Health History Month — a national health observance that encourages people to learn about their family medical history. Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy headquarters, we love a good public health observance. And we love a good think about inclusive health communication. Family health history is an area that’s not always talked about in the most inclusive, empathetic way.

Here’s the thing — family health history is really important. It can help with calculating your risk for inherited conditions, guide screening recommendations, and provide a more complete overall picture of your health. For example, some genetic differences that cause diseases can be inherited — like the BRCA gene that causes breast cancer. So if you have a family history of breast cancer (or something else), your doctor might recommend you get tests or screenings earlier and more often. In short, doctors look to family health history to help guide more personalized and proactive care.

But here’s the other thing — people may not always have access to their full family history. There are a lot of things that can prevent people from knowing their family’s medical background. And some of those things could be difficult to talk about or emotionally sensitive. Here are some factors that can be a barrier to family health information.

• Donor conception. People conceived using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos may have limited or no access to family health history. It depends on when the donation happened, what type of donor was chosen (anonymous, known, or open ID), and how honest and open a person’s parents were about having used a donor.
• Adoption. Similar challenges can exist for people who were adopted — especially during times when anonymous adoptions were common.
• Estrangement. Some families simply don’t have contact with one another. Rifts or disputes can cause family members to be unwilling to talk for any reason, including health-related reasons. In other cases, where estrangement has happened due to abuse and violence, making contact might even be unsafe.
• Separation due to war or migration. Historical and modern events like war, migration, and immigration can disconnect family members. When families are separated, medical history may be lost.

Our messages need to be sensitive and reflect this diversity of experience. Here are some ways we can talk about family health history thoughtfully and with care.

• Acknowledge gaps. Clearly state that “not everyone has access to their full family health history.”
• Reassure. Having limited or no access to family health history might feel scary, sad, or isolating. Make sure your messages let people know that it’s okay not to have all the details — and that family health history is not the end-all-be-all for having good health.
• Promote healthy habits. Highlight behaviors and choices that support good health for everyone, regardless of genetic background. Remind people that a healthy lifestyle can make a huge difference in overall health and well-being.
• Strike a balanced tone when talking about genetic testing. The subject is complex, and packed with opinions about what people should and shouldn’t do — and how. Remember that the decision to have genetic tests, whether they’re clinical or direct-to-consumer, is a personal one. Give your audience quality information on the topic and trust them to decide what’s best for themselves.

The bottom line: By acknowledging differences in access to family health history, we can ensure that messages about health are inclusive, supportive, and empowering.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): Family health history — a powerful tool for health, but one that’s not in everyone’s toolkit. CommunicateHealth has some thoughts about how to talk about family history with care and compassion for diverse experiences. Take a look: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/talking-about-family-health-history-inclusive-strategies-for-every-story/

This week, we’re excited to bring you another post in our new(ish) series “Voices From the Field.” We chatted with Ashani Johnson-Turbes, Director of NORC’s Center on Equity Research (and President of the Society for Health Communication!). NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, nonpartisan research organization that works with government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and commercial organizations. Within NORC and beyond, the Center on Equity Research works to advance equity through the development, implementation, and dissemination of high-quality inclusive and equitable social science research.

Ever since she started her career working on environmental issues with the Chicago Housing Authority in the 1990s, Ashani’s been a fervent advocate of promoting equity — long before the term became popular. “Nowadays, ‘equity’ is popular and ubiquitous. It’s a buzzword that gets used a lot, but the concept itself has been around for a very long time,” Ashani says. “At its core, equity refers to things being fair, just, and impartial. That’s what our work is really about.” And her work is leading a team of experts at the Center on Equity Research in what she calls “Equity Science”: the study and practice of efforts to advance equity across research and evaluation to make research methods better. In the public health space, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to it as “health equity science — the examination of patterns and factors that contribute to health inequities.”

Why is that important, you ask? Well, for one thing, social science research — the study of human behavior and relationships — influences many policy decisions that affect public health. Social and behavioral science informs decisions on how funding is allocated, how public health campaigns are designed, and what programs and services are needed and developed. But historically, some groups of people have been absent from not only the research, but also from the process of making decisions about what kind of research is important and is being conducted — and how that’s done.

Being left out means that their voices, concerns, needs, experiences, and expertise weren’t reflected in data, outcomes, or decision-making about how to use results. “As social science researchers, we must not only strive to improve research processes that left many groups absent or inadequately represented,” Ashani says. “We must also understand the historical context that led to some groups being invisible — and acknowledge that trustworthy and valid research cannot happen without inclusivity.”

That’s why Ashani and her team developed the Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) Framework — and why they’re currently developing the Inclusive and Equitable Research Framework™, which will offer an action-oriented blueprint for embedding inclusivity and equity throughout the research cycle. Both frameworks can guide health communication and other scientists in making study designs, data collection tools, analyses, and communication inclusive and equitable.

The Inclusive and Equitable Research Framework will highlight 4 main principles:

• Positionality and self-reflection. Acknowledge and reflect on the fact that researchers bring the full sum of their life, history, identity, and biases (conscious or unconscious) to the research process.
• Culture and community engagement. Center your intended audience’s culture and lived experience in the research cycle through authentic community engagement. “Engaging people in the community in the entire research process will add to the validity and trustworthiness of your data and results,” Ashani points out.
• Make research available, accessible, and easy-to-understand for everyone involved. This can help dismantle power hierarchies between researchers and the people and communities they work with.
• Systems thinking. Ensure that your research moves beyond focusing on individual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to examine the social, economic, and political structures that influence people’s lives.

The bottom line: Equity can sometimes seem like just another health comm buzzword. Ashani Johnson-Turbes reminds us that “equity can be a verb and a process” — and that promoting equity means promoting what is fair, just, and impartial, in research and beyond.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): This week, CommunicateHealth’s blog series “Voices From the Field” features Ashani Johnson-Turbes from NORC’s Center on Equity Research. Don’t miss out on this conversation: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/voices-from-the-field-ashani-johnson-turbes-norc-center-on-equity-research/ #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

We’ve talked before about how much we love libraries — and about how free and equitable access to books can help improve health literacy. But lending books is far from the only way our libraries contribute to the health of our communities. So today, dear reader, we’re back with some more appreciation for the role of public libraries in public health promotion.

In his 2023 advisory on loneliness and isolation, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy listed libraries as a key part of the social infrastructure that makes social connection possible. Libraries serve as what sociologists call  “third places” — not home, not work, but a third place where people can gather, communicate, and build relationships.

And unlike many other physical parts of the social infrastructure, libraries provide free, public indoor spaces. They’re a reliably safe and weather-proof option for people experiencing homelessness, kids who need a place to hang out after school, and people of all ages who simply have nowhere else to go.

With all this gathering going on, libraries have lots of opportunities to reach people and share information. In fact, many public libraries now employ social workers to help people find and access government benefits and services. Need to apply for disability payments or SNAP benefits? Libraries can help with that. Need to find emergency housing or mental health care? Libraries can help with that, too. For people who don’t have reliable internet access or have trouble navigating information online, libraries may be a lifeline to the benefits they need.

And public libraries don’t only provide information and help navigate services — they also provide some health and social services directly.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries went beyond communication and worked to distribute masks, test kits, and even vaccines to community members.
• In response to the opioid epidemic, libraries began stocking Narcan and training staff to help in case of overdoses.
• To address food insecurity, libraries don’t only provide food and nutrition education — many distribute meals, run on-site food pantries, or plant community gardens.
• To support patrons living with mental health conditions, many libraries train staff in mental health first aid and offer free workshops on mental health topics.

So next time you’re working on a health comm project that could use a community-based approach, consider teaming up with local libraries. To get started, check out the Midwest Public Health Training Center’s public library collaboration toolkit. And if you’ve partnered with libraries and have tips to share, let us know! We’d ❤️ to hear about your experiences.

The bottom line: Public health and public libraries make a perfect team — so try including local libraries in your health comm partnerships.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): What do public libraries have to do with public health? A whole lot! CommunicateHealth explains why you’ll want to team up with libraries on your health comm projects: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/partnering-with-public-libraries-to-promote-public-health/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

This is not the post we wanted to write this week, dear readers. But current events have prompted us to reach out to all of you today with a simple message, for anyone who needs to hear it: You are not alone.

To our colleagues working in public health who worry about what this election’s results mean for our work, and for the health of our communities: We don’t have an answer. But we promise we’ll keep looking for one, together.

To those who feel less safe today than they did last week, like many of our friends in the LGBTQ+ community (and so many others): We see you, and we’ll keep fighting for what’s good and true.

To everyone who’s building a life in this country, no matter where you came from: You belong. We’re a stronger country with you in it.

Today, we process. Tomorrow, we’ll continue to work in the service of public health.

In solidarity,

Your friends at CommunicateHealth

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): This week feels hard for many of us in the #PublicHealth community and beyond. CommunicateHealth wants you to know that you’re not alone: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/to-our-community/ #HealthComm

In less than 2 weeks, people across the country will vote on who they think should set the tone of U.S. politics for the next 4 years. While it’s hard to overstate the significance of this election for any number of public health-related topics — think reproductive freedom and health care, LGBTQ+ rights, and firearm violence, to name just a few — we wanted to zoom out today and look at the bigger picture. And that is how we can participate in and shape the way political decisions are made — a process that requires civic literacy.

Civic literacy is the skillset people need to play an active role in the processes that shape their communities and society at large. It includes understanding how our country’s institutions work to keep public life running, and how our leaders make decisions that affect nearly every aspect of our lives. It also includes understanding our rights and responsibilities within that context — whether it’s casting your vote on election day, staying informed about current issues, or having respectful discussions with others who might have different opinions.

You might wonder, what does all of this have to do with health? A whole lot! Consider this, dear reader:

Civic literacy is the foundation for civic engagement and participation — playing an active role in improving the quality of life in your community. Research shows that civic engagement supports better health. And there are many ways to get involved, from volunteering at a local food bank to coaching a youth sports team or even running for public office.

Civic literacy includes media literacy — the ability to find (and think critically about) information. Supporting media literacy may be our best defense against health mis- and disinformation. (For more on this tricky topic, check out the Practical Playbook for Addressing Health Misinformation.)

Health care is inherently political. Whether it’s setting a framework for insurance providers (like the Affordable Care Act), regulating how much drug manufacturers can charge for medicines, or passing laws to protect or restrict people’s access to services, policy decisions affect nearly every aspect of health care. Highlighting those connections for our audiences — and empowering them to get involved — is part of our job as health communicators.

So how can we promote civic literacy and engagement among our audiences? While this is certainly a bigger task than we can accomplish through health communication alone, there are a few strategies we can use:

• Educate readers about health-related policies. There are many, many examples of this, ranging from expanding Medicaid to making insulin more affordable to banning potentially harmful medical devices. Understanding how policies can affect their health and access to care can empower people to take action.
• Point out opportunities for people to get involved. If you’re writing about a specific disability or health condition, try linking to relevant advocacy organizations. Many orgs share timely updates on policy issues that impact their audiences, along with opportunities for folks to make their voices heard. You can also encourage audience members to contact their elected officials to weigh in on the issues they care about.
• Offer a platform for civic discourse. If you have the option — for example, through your blog or social media presence — make space for your audience to discuss important health (policy) topics. It’s a good idea to implement a set of community guidelines to encourage a respectful exchange of opinions.
• Encourage people to have political conversations within their social circles. It can feel daunting to talk about political or social issues with loved ones who hold different views — but there’s power in seeing an issue through the eyes of someone you care about. Consider sharing resources to help people start the conversation.
• Go vote — and encourage others to do the same. Casting your vote in local, state, and federal elections is one of the easiest and most important ways to influence the decisions that shape community health. Check out these customizable social media messages and graphics from the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) to use on your platforms. You can also link your audience to resources (like BallotReady or Vote 411) people can use to register to vote in their state, learn about what’s on the ballot, or find their polling place.

The bottom line: Just as health literacy empowers people to make informed decisions about their health, civic literacy empowers people to be thoughtful, engaged members of society. As health communicators, we can work to promote both

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): It’s election season — a great time to explore the concept of civic literacy and how health communicators can promote it. Check out CommunicateHealth’s post for more: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/civic-literacy #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm #GoVote

It’s our favorite time of the year! This October, we’re celebrating 25 years of Health Literacy Month. For more than a quarter of a century, health comm professionals have been working to foster health literacy skills and make health information easier to access, understand, and use. To mark the occasion, we’re bringing you a special “Voices From the Field” interview with Dr. Jennifer Anne Bishop. Jenn leads the Health Promotion and Communication Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP).

As it turns out, the 25^th annual Health Literacy Month was the perfect time to catch up with Jenn. In her 25 years working for the federal government, she’s seen health literacy evolve from an emerging field to a top public health priority. “During my career, I’ve witnessed firsthand how health literacy can empower people to make informed health decisions,” Jenn says. “I’m really excited about this anniversary because it’s a reminder of the progress we’ve made in public health to make sure that clear, accessible health information is a priority.”

For example, health literacy gained national attention with the release of ODPHP’s National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy in 2010. Since the Action Plan’s publication, “we’ve seen a great deal of interest in defining organizational health literacy and developing tools to support organizations as they try to integrate that into their daily practice,” Jenn says. In line with that evolution, ODPHP’s Healthy People initiative has expanded its definition of health literacy to include organizational health literacy. “I believe this is a critical advancement because it acknowledges that health literacy is not just the responsibility or status of an individual, but a responsibility for all levels of society,” Jenn explains. She points to the many actionable tools that were created over the past years to help organizations and health professionals adopt health literacy strategies — like the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s 10 Attributes of Health Literate Health Care Organizations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Health Literacy resources.

Now, ODPHP is making plans to update the Action Plan to reflect the challenges of our ever-changing digital world. For Jenn, looking at literacy more holistically is a top priority. “The future Action Plan needs to have a stronger focus on the intersection between digital and personal and organizational health literacy,” Jenn emphasizes. “With increasing reliance on digital health tools, we need to make sure we’re presenting information in a way that people can fully navigate.” That means looking at the big picture of the online landscape and identifying new strategies for addressing mis- and disinformation. It also includes making digital health information accessible to diverse audiences. “Given the fact that our nation is becoming so much more diverse, we need to incorporate additional strategies to ensure that underserved populations, especially those with limited English proficiency, aren’t left behind,” Jenn says. To make sure the revised Action Plan reflects the needs of all population groups, ODPHP is reaching out to collaborators nationally and internationally. For starters, ODPHP is holding a listening session at the Health Literacy Annual Research Conference (HARC) on October 22. “We want to hear from our audience and get feedback on what worked, what didn’t work, and what’s new that should be added,” Jenn says. (Here’s the best part, dear reader — you can still sign up for the conference and participate in the listening session!)

We’re proud of the tools ODPHP and CH have created to advance health literacy — including MyHealthfinder, a digital tool that people can use to learn about preventive health services and get personalized recommendations, and Health Literacy Online, a guide to creating health communication materials that follow health literacy best practices. (A new edition of Health Literacy Online is also in the works!) Still, Jenn emphasizes that there’s more work to be done. Looking ahead, Jenn says: “I’m excited about engaging with partners, for example through our Health Literacy Workgroup, and seeing their excitement for this work. I’m also thrilled by the groundswell of interest we’re seeing from groups outside of the government about promoting health literacy. For me, it’s all about turning this excitement into action.” We couldn’t agree more!

The bottom line: As we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Health Literacy Month, there’s a lot for health communicators to be proud of — and new challenges ahead. We’re glad Jenn Bishop and her team at ODPHP are invested in creating resources to support health literacy.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): It’s the 25^th anniversary of Health Literacy Month! To celebrate, CommunicateHealth interviewed ODPHP’s Jenn Bishop about her work supporting health literacy. Check it out: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/voices-from-the-field-celebrating-health-literacy-month-with-jenn-bishop-odphp #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm #25YearsOfHealthLiteracyMonth

As health communicators, it’s important we reach our audiences where they’re at. And even though we’re aware of the potential pitfalls of social media, it’s become one of the main channels we have for distributing health information. In the social media space, working with influencers has become an important tactic for reaching audiences with information — and one that’s worth exploring for health communicators.

But let’s back up for a second: what is an influencer? In the broadest terms, an influencer is someone who inspires or guides the actions of others. Usually, we think of influencers in terms of marketing — a person who promotes a product, often on social media. Although the concept of social media influencers is relatively new, enlisting well-known personalities to promote brands is an age-old marketing technique — think celebrity endorsements. Traditionally, a brand ambassador may have been an expert in their field, a big-name celebrity, or someone in a position of power.

But in the age of social media, where anyone can broadcast their lives globally, we’re seeing a new kind of influencers who look a lot like you and me — ok, maybe a little more glam. Thousands of “regular people” influencers have amassed followers and created a thriving economy promoting brands and products. But influencers end up promoting more than just goods — they’re promoting their lifestyle choices too, often making recommendations on parenting, diet, exercise, or even important health decisions (like whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine).

You may be wondering: do people really take advice from influencers? According to the Ad Council’s Trusted Messengers Study, the answer is yes. Trusted messengers — or people we trust to receive information from — may look different for every person. Some common examples are family and friends, doctors and scientists, and academic and religious leaders — and for many of us, especially younger generations, influencers.

That’s why influencer engagement is an important tactic to help us promote health behavior change. But, as in all things health comm, it’s important to take a thoughtful approach to make sure we create effective communications (and avoid unintentionally causing harm). 

Consider these tips for identifying and working with an influencer:

• Know your audience. This is as basic rule for any kind of health communication, but it’s especially important as you’re thinking about influencers. To find the right influencer to work with, you have to know your audience and who they trust.
• Find the right influencer. You can ask people in your priority audience for recommendations, or you can do your own online search using relevant key words.
• Vet your influencer. Once you identified your top choice, it’s time to do a little digging. When you look up the influencer’s name, what picture emerges? Are there any red flags? Consider the tone, professionalism, quality, and accuracy of their content. Be especially mindful of content promoting misinformation or disinformation (for a refresher on addressing health misinformation, check out this playbook!). Once you’ve done your research, contact the influencer to talk about the potential opportunity.
• Align on messaging. During that first conversation, clearly state the main message(s) you want the influencer to convey to the audience. Ask questions to make sure you’re aligned on the “mission”: For example, if you’re trying to encourage people to get their yearly flu shot, you’ll want to make sure the influencer feels comfortable promoting this message.
• Ask for input. Although you’ll want to come in with a clear idea of your goals, it’s important to consider the influencer’s ideas too — after all, they know what resonates with their audience.
• Set clear rules and expectations. Just like with any business relationship, it’s a good idea to document your collaboration with an influencer in a contract. That doesn’t need to be complex — just a simple document that outlines the services they’re providing, timeline, and payment (most influencers will expect to get paid for promoting your messages, so make sure that’s in the budget).

The bottom line: Working with influencers to promote health behavior change can be an important tool in your health comm toolkit.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): Curious about working with social media influencers to promote health content? CommunicateHealth has tips for doing it thoughtfully: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/the-age-of-influencers #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about using empathy in health communication — like when we’re crafting decision aids or writing materials for people with specific health conditions. Today, we’d like to bring your attention to a topic that has a lot to do with empathy: trauma-informed health communication.

Consider this not-so-fun fact, dear reader: According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 7 out of 10 adults in the U.S. say they’ve experienced at least 1 traumatic event in their life. The effects of trauma can be long-lasting and have mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual impacts. That’s why health care providers are often trained in trauma-informed care — the philosophy that, for care to be effective, a provider needs to understand a patient’s life experiences. And many learn that, when it comes to trauma, it’s best to take a universal precautions approach. Basically, expect that trauma is present in the lives of every person — and take care not to cause more.

Here’s the thing. While a doctor can ask a patient questions, listen to their personal stories, and tailor their approach accordingly, public health communicators usually don’t have that opportunity. But what we can do is apply a universal precautions approach of our own — and be intentional about taking a trauma-informed tack in our writing.

Consider these tips:

Be alert to topics that might be extra sensitive to readers. Some more obvious examples include content related to violence or abuse, mental health, and OB/GYN and urology topics. But even content related to, for example, fitness and nutrition can include triggers — like for people who had traumatizing experiences with disordered eating.

Avoid language that may retraumatize people. Let’s say you’re describing the steps of a pelvic exam. Terms like “spread,” “relax,” or “insert” may be accurate descriptions of parts of the process, but they may also cause a trauma response for someone who’s a survivor of sexual abuse or assault. Try alternatives like:

• Instead of: “Your doctor will insert the swab.”
• Write: “Your doctor will gently place the swab.”

And let’s all agree to stop telling people to relax during pelvic exams, in general, forever.

Look for opportunities to give agency and empower. Instead of describing what will be “required of” or “done to” someone in a health setting, shift the language to emphasize what a person can control and decide. For example:

• Instead of: “For the exam, you will undress from the waist down and lie on your back on the exam table.”
• Write: “You may be asked to remove some of your clothing. If you’re not comfortable taking off clothing, it’s okay to say so. There might be options that can help you feel more at ease.”

Remember that trauma and social determinants of health are connected. Groups who’ve been denied equal access to the resources that support health and well-being are more likely to have a history of trauma as well. And some experts believe that trauma itself is a social determinant of health — for example, experiencing trauma as a child often affects people’s health, well-being, and life opportunities well into adulthood. So keep that front of mind when your primary audience is more likely to be impacted by disparities in social determinants of health.

The bottom line: When we take a trauma-informed approach in our work, we’re doing our part to make sure our health communication materials help instead of harm.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): Using a trauma-informed approach to health communication helps make sure our messages don’t harm the people who rely on us for clear, accurate health information. Check out CommunicateHealth’s post for more info: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/writing-trauma-informed-health-comm-materials/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm