Category: We Heart Health Literacy

Learning from your audience is a key step for creating materials that help your audience feel seen and accepted. Ideally, every health communicator would have access to a legion of expert researchers to conduct research sessions — but we know that’s not always the case. Time and budget constraints mean that formal research isn’t always on the table. And even when research is an option, it’s often health communicators (not specialized research professionals) in the room asking the questions.

But never fear, dear reader! Today, we’re bringing you some practical tips for moderating a research session — be it a focus group, in-depth interview, or usability testing — to help you make the most of the time you have with your audience and get useful insights that can inform your content.

Try these tips for moderating a successful research session:

• Break the ice. Spend a few minutes at the start of the session chatting with participants before diving into your research questions — for example, ask about their hometown or a favorite activity. This gives people time to “warm up” and get comfortable talking with you.
• Set expectations. Explain the purpose of your research and let participants know what to expect. Let them know how long you’ll be talking, what you’ll do with the information they share, and who will have access to it. If you’re going to be recording any part of the session, be sure to get participants’ consent — and give them a chance to ask any questions they may have before you get started.
• Create a discussion guide. A discussion guide is a tool that you can use to stay on track during your session. It’s not a script — but it can help you remember what you want to ask and give the session structure. Write out your questions, group them by topic, and note how much time you want to spend on each section. Consider highlighting your must-ask questions in case you’re short on time toward the end. And keep in mind that you can always adjust questions on the fly based on what’s happening in the conversation!
• Ask open-ended questions. How you ask a question can be just as important as what you ask about. To get the most from your participants, ask questions they can’t answer with a simple “yes” or “no.” For example, instead of asking “Do you exercise every day?” try “How often are you active?” or “Tell me about your physical activity routine.” Avoid asking leading questions that only leave people with 2 options to choose from, like “which is more helpful for keeping track of your medicine doses — a smartphone app or a paper schedule?” An open-ended way to ask that question might be: “How do you keep track of your medicine doses?”
• Be an active listener. Listen closely to your participants’ responses. This not only shows respect for your participant and helps you build trust — it also helps you fully engage with the new information you’re learning. When you’re using active listening skills, you’re in a better position to ask thoughtful follow-up questions or know when to probe for more information.
• Treat sessions like a normal conversation. Using a conversational tone can help your participants relax and be comfortable while they’re sharing their experiences — and keep the session from feeling like a “test.” Even so, some participants may ask if they’re answering your questions or doing tasks “correctly.” If that happens, try saying “there’s not a right or wrong way to answer — I’m here to learn about what you think.” Keep in mind that conducting research can mean talking to folks about sensitive or deeply personal subjects. It’s okay to acknowledge your participants’ emotions and show empathy
• Set yourself up for success. Planning ahead can make a big difference. If you can, ask a friend or colleague to do a “dry run” of your session before you meet with real participants. A dry run is an opportunity to check any technology you plan to use and make sure you have enough time to get through everything. And it’s a great way to get initial feedback on the tone and clarity of your questions!

The bottom line: Audience research is key to creating materials that resonate — and as health communicators, we sometimes have to put on our researcher hats to get it done. Following best practices can help you host successful research sessions and get the most from your audiences.

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!):Conducting research is a key way #HealthCommunicators can create materials that resonate with our audiences. This week, CommunicateHealth shares tips for moderating a research session: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/moderating-research-sessions #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

If you’re a parent or caregiver of young kids (or just a person who enjoys well-made, educational public television), you might have come across PBS’s new addition to their children’s programming: Carl the Collector.

Carl’s a young boy/racoon who, as the show’s name implies, likes to collect things: from everyday things like rocks and sticks you might find on any playroom’s windowsill, to more whimsical items like fake mustaches. For Carl, his collections are more than just the product of a backyard excursion. Carl’s autistic, which makes him one of the few neurodivergent characters to have a lead role in popular TV.

Carl the Collector strikes a delicate balance between autism-driven stories and stories about everyday experiences that all kids can relate to — and the show strikes that balance exceptionally well. “Carl the Collector spotlights neurodivergent characters while exploring and celebrating the entire spectrum of humanity,” says Creator and Executive Producer Zachariah OHora. “[Their world] is designed to be a place where all viewers will see themselves or someone they know in it. We hope Carl and his friends will encourage empathy and understanding, and ultimately show that everyone benefits when we recognize and embrace our differences.” 

What we ❤️ most about Carl the Collector is that it’s a perfect example of how to center the lived experience of audience members when communicating about a health topic — and how this approach can make a great material even stronger. From the show’s creator, to its director, to other members of the production team, many of the people in charge of bringing Carl and his friends to life are either autistic themselves or have close relationships with people on the spectrum. Carl and his friend Lotta, the other autistic cast member, are voiced not by professional actors, but by kids who are neurodivergent (check out this article for more details about how the show’s produced). Lotta also highlights the experiences of autistic girls, who are often overlooked and underrepresented in media.

This commitment to reflecting Carl and Lotta’s everyday challenges, joys, and passionate interests makes Carl the Collector feel authentic in a way few TV shows do. But just like in real life, autism is only one part of their story. Carl and his friends explore, go on adventures, argue sometimes, and get into trouble — but most importantly, they learn how to work together to solve problems while respecting each other’s unique personalities. And that’s a lesson we all — adults, kids, and racoons — can embrace.

The bottom line: Carl the Collector brings us important lessons about autism in the best way possible — with sensitivity, humor, and taught by an adorable racoon in an argyle sweater.

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): If there’s ever a time to spotlight diversity — and authentic autism representation — it is now. Check out CommunicateHealth’s take on @PBS’s adorable new show, Carl the Collector, featuring one of very few neurodivergent main characters in children’s TV: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/tv-club-carl-the-collector/

A lot is happening in the world right now, dear readers. Things are changing daily — but what hasn’t changed is our commitment to clear and inclusive communication. That’s why we’re starting a new series called “Health Comm for the Current Moment.” It’s our attempt to shine a light on the issues that move health communicators, look behind the headlines, and bring you communication tips that (hopefully) make your work just a little bit easier. So without further ado, enjoy today’s post!

Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy Headquarters, we’ve spent a lot of time on this blog sharing ways to write more inclusively about all kinds of topics — including gender identity and sexuality, family structures, and disability.

But we also recognize that using inclusive language can come with challenges — like making sure language is inclusive and clear. When you’re writing for a broad audience, it’s likely to include both people who feel affirmed and validated when they see newer, more inclusive terms — and people who feel confused, or even alienated, by the same terms. And sometimes, there might just be terms you cannot use for, err… one reason or another.

This is tricky stuff. And while there are strategies we can use — like breaking our audience into segments — to help us decide what the “right” terms are for our particular audience, we still might sometimes find ourselves in a situation where we’re not sure what to do.

That’s why today, we’re shining the spotlight on “you”!

Ahem — that is, writing in the second person and addressing your reader as “you.” Using second person phrasing is not only a plain language best practice, but a clever way we can sidestep clunky wording or unfamiliar terms while still being clear about who we’re speaking to. Consider this example:

• Instead of: It’s important for pregnant people to get plenty of rest.
• Try: If you’re pregnant, it’s important to get plenty of rest.

Some readers might not be familiar with or receptive to the term “pregnant people” — but usually, readers will know whether they’re pregnant.

Here’s another example:

• Instead of: During a heat wave, unhoused individuals can use the cooling shelter the city has set up.
• Try: If you don’t have a safe place to cool down during a heat wave, you can use the cooling shelter the city has set up.

Some readers might not be familiar with the term “unhoused individuals” — a newer alternative to “homeless people” — or might prefer a different term. By addressing the reader as “you,” we can avoid creating confusion or accidentally causing offense while still clearly conveying our message.

And, when it does feel right to introduce a newer, more inclusive term, we can still use “you” to help the piece flow smoothly. Take this example:

• Breastfeeding can help protect babies from getting sick. Some people might prefer to use the term “chestfeeding” because it feels more gender-neutral or better aligns with their identity. When you feed your baby…

Here, we’ve introduced a newer inclusive term — chestfeeding — and explained why someone might use it. Then, we’ve transitioned to using second person language to avoid potentially clunky wording (like “When breastfeeding or chestfeeding a baby…”).

The bottom line: Addressing readers as “you” is not only a plain language best practice — it’s a tool we can use to make our communications clear and inclusive when we’re writing for broad and diverse audiences.

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): When we’re writing for broad, diverse audiences, it can be hard to make our communications both inclusive and clear. CommunicateHealth shares a simple tip health communicators can use to help all readers feel included: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/health-comm-for-the-current-moment-the-power-of-you/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

Sharpen your library cards — for the latest post in our series “Voices From the Field,” we talked with Katherine Maas, Chief of Staff at the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS invests in community institutions dedicated to bringing information, education, and art to the public. IMLS’s mission is to “advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking and research, which supports educational and workforce development.” In short, they’re helping to make our libraries and museums even more awesome.

When asked what professional achievement she’s been especially proud of recently, Katherine Maas doesn’t have to think twice. “This year, we launched InformationLiteracy.gov, a collection of over 120 resources to help library and museum professionals promote information literacy in their communities.” (At We ❤️ Health Literacy headquarters, we’re super proud to have helped create the Information Literacy website!)

Information literacy, at the most basic level, means the skills that people need to find, understand, evaluate, and share information — and it never seemed more important than now. That very much includes our all-time favorite, health literacy, along with digital literacy, financial literacy, and science literacy. “All of these areas are connected,” Katherine says. “Digital literacy affects your ability to find good information to help you take care of yourself. And financial literacy underpins people’s ability to live their lives and support themselves, their families, and their health.” As for science literacy, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a real eye opener about the need to break down, explain, and promote understanding of scientific processes.

Katherine notes that promoting information literacy and critical thinking skills can have a positive ripple effect into communities. In addition to helping people navigate today’s increasingly digital world, these important skills can have a tangible effect on workforce development. For example, understanding how to evaluate online information can help people apply for jobs (and avoid job scams!), earn a high school or college diploma, or learn a new trade to adapt to a changing job market.

It all comes down to helping people navigate their “information environment”: the people, organizations, and systems around us that collect, process, disseminate, and act on information. That’s where museums and libraries come in. “There are about 117,000 libraries and 22,000 museums in the U.S.,” Katherine says. “These local institutions are at the heart of their communities, and they’re able to see and help address information challenges that are unique to every community.”

Katherine points out that museums and libraries often serve as trusted messengers and spaces for learning for people in their community. And that puts them in the perfect position to help strengthen the skillsets people need to successfully navigate their information environment. “Libraries and museums encourage us to stop and think about how we know what we know. It’s hugely important for people to ask questions and think critically about what they consider facts — and ‘primary sources’ of information like history museums can play a big role in that.”

Finally, Katherine emphasizes that the point of the resources on InformationLiteracy.gov is to empower professionals — and by extension, the people in their communities — to have informed conversations about the issues that affect them, especially if that means navigating multiple perspectives. “When we developed InformationLiteracy.gov, we intentionally tried to bring people with different sets of expertise and different opinions to the table and share their strategies for reaching our common goal.” This collaborative approach has made InformationLiteracy.gov stronger and more adaptable to different settings and communities — and we think it shows!

The bottom line: Supporting information literacy may be one of the best strategies we have to help people navigate today’s complex digital environment. How lucky are we that there’s organizations like IMLS — along with thousands of museums and libraries across the country — to rise to the challenge!

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): CommunicateHealth’s new post in the series “Voices From the Field” features Katherine Maas from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Grab your #library card and check out this conversation: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/voices-from-the-field-katherine-maas-institute-of-museum-and-library-services/ #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

As public health crises go, few have been as devastating as the opioid epidemic. Between 1999 and 2022, opioid overdoses claimed nearly 727,000 lives in the United States alone. Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is weighing approval of a new medicine that promises to be a non-addictive alternative to opioids for treating pain. We’ll be following these developments closely — but in the meantime, we’re thinking about how we as health communicators can approach the extremely important, and extremely sensitive, topic of opioid use disorder (a question we first tried to answer in 2016).

Here’s our thoughts:

Include people with lived experience.

At this point, this almost goes without saying, dear reader — after all, nary a post gets published on here without mention of how important it is to involve your audience members in developing your materials. The more sensitive and complex the health topic, the more important it is to make sure the language you use accurately reflects the experience of people who’ve been there. That means engaging people with opioid use disorder, people in recovery, their loved ones and family members, or health care providers and allied professionals, depending on your communication goals.    

Reframe addiction as a medical problem.

All too often, addiction is still viewed as a moral failure instead of what it is: a medical problem that can be treated, just like any other disease. Health comm folks like us can support this mental shift by communicating about addiction and opioid use the same way we would talk about diseases like cancer or diabetes — with a focus on empathy and inclusive, non-stigmatizing language. Another strategy is to clearly explain what happens in the body when people become physically dependent on opioids or other drugs (for example, by sharing this video from the National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Explain harm reduction (then, explain it again).

For many folks, harm reduction — taking steps to make drug use safer — is one of the trickiest concepts to wrap their head around. It’s easy to see why. At a cursory glance, harm reduction strategies like needle exchanges or the Never Use Alone hotline may seem to “enable” people with opioid use disorder rather than encourage them to stop using. We could write a whole post about this topic (and we have!), but here’s the gist: The most important goal is to keep people alive. Recovering from opioid use disorder is tough, and it often takes people years and several attempts to stop using — but recovery is possible. Harm reduction is simply a way to keep people alive and as healthy as possible while they’re on their journey.

Highlight systemic reasons for the crisis.

Acknowledging the deeply rooted systemic reasons for the opioid epidemic in our country may not solve the crisis. But it may help reduce the social stigma so many people who misuse opioids face and help shift perception away from individual blame and toward systemic responsibility. We know now that for years, opioids were heavily marketed and promoted to doctors as safe — and that for years, they were over-prescribed, with far too little regulatory oversight. We also know there’s a myriad of systemic factors that contribute to the opioid crisis, like economic hardship, unequal access to health care, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want more tips on communicating about opioids and overdose prevention? Check out this helpful messaging guide from Berkeley Media Studies Group.

Bottom line: People with opioid use disorder — and their loved ones — deserve clear, empathetic, and non-stigmatizing health information. As health communicators, we can do our part to make sure they get just that.

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!):The opioid crisis remains one of the most important public health topics of our time. CommunicateHealth shares thoughts on how #HealthComm professionals can talk about it: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/communicating-about-opioids-lessons-from-the-past-decade/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy

Way back in 2016, we talked about how icons make it easy to communicate with fewer words. And that’s still true! But a lot has changed in the world of iconography since then — especially when it comes to making icons more inclusive. So today, we’re exploring what’s new with our old pal the icon.

Just as we health communicators have been using more gender-conscious language, many designers have been exploring gender-conscious icons and pictograms. For example, you may have noticed the old-fashioned male and female stick figures slowly disappearing from bathroom signs. Now, instead of depicting gender, many bathroom signs depict, well, plumbing fixtures. By showing different combinations of toilets and urinals (and wheelchairs to indicate accessible stalls), these designs keep the focus on what the user needs. And that’s an approach we always ❤️!

Designers and accessibility advocates have also given the classic wheelchair icon a recent glow-up. Rather than a stiff, static depiction of a person sitting, this newer accessible icon shows their movement through space — shifting the focus from the wheelchair as passive object to the wheelchair user as active subject, and highlighting their ability to move and navigate.

And speaking of moves, if you watched the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, you may have seen the new pictograms for each sport. These designs didn’t default to clunky, static wheelchairs to stamp a design as “paralympic.” Instead, Olympic and Paralympic sports share the same pictogram, unless accessible equipment is key to the action. So the design for archery or swimming is shared, while wheelchair basketball gets a snazzy, dynamic chair added in.

You probably won’t want to use pictograms quite as fancy as the Paris designs in your health materials — the icons should be plain and clear in health comm, just like the language. But the next time you reach for an icon to help get your point across, we hope these examples help you choose a design that’s accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to everyone in your audiences.

The bottom line: Whether you’re creating health materials or designing for public spaces, use inclusive, accessible icons to help your audiences understand and navigate.  

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): How can we make icons more inclusive and accessible? CommunicateHealth takes a look at some icon updates:  https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/say-it-even-better-with-inclusive-icons/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

Happy New Year, dear readers! As we step into 2025, the future of public health and health care feels uncertain in many ways. If you’re feeling anxious about what this year holds, you’re definitely not alone. We may not have a crystal ball, but here at We ❤️ Health Literacy Headquarters, we’re going to keep working toward a future where everyone can access the care they need to thrive — and we’re confident that like-minded organizations will join us! To start 2025 on a hopeful note, we’re highlighting a few organizations that are working to make health care more inclusive by addressing systemic inequities, educating health care providers, and connecting patients with care that meets their needs.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

Black people face alarming disparities in reproductive health care. The Black Mamas Matter Alliance envisions a world where all Black women and birthing people have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy. This Black women-led organization provides training and capacity building to pregnancy care providers, grassroots organizations, academics, and public health professionals to advance Black pregnancy-related health.

Inclusive Therapists

Inclusive Therapists highlights mental health care providers who practice from a social justice and liberation-informed perspective. Anyone can use Inclusive Therapists’ directory to find providers who share specific identities or experiences (for example, LGBTQ+ therapists), specialize in certain topics, or offer sliding scale payment options. The organization’s website also features mental health resources created by and for people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and disabled people.

PATH: Promoting Accessibility To Healthcare

While health care providers learn about conditions like autism, ADHD, and Down syndrome in medical school, many don’t learn how to provide care in a way that supports their neurodivergent patients’ needs. As a result, neurodivergent people are more likely to experience medical trauma. UC Davis Health’s PATH Program (a clever acronym for Promoting Accessibility To Healthcare) is working to fill this knowledge gap, starting with pediatric health care providers. PATH educates pediatric providers about communication and sensory differences that many neurodivergent children experience, along with actionable steps that providers can take to make their practice more accessible and affirming.

Equitas Health

Equitas Health, a nonprofit community health care system, has been breaking down barriers to care for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS since 1984. Today, Equitas Health takes a “whole person” approach to care, offering gender-affirming care, online community support groups, needle exchange programs, and more. Equitas Health Institute (the educational branch of Equitas Health) hosts webinars and publishes resources on relevant topics like gender-affirming care in rural areas, aging in the LGBTQ+ community, and asexual experiences in the health care system.    

Association for Weight and Size Inclusive Medicine

While conversations about weight and health have evolved over the past few years, weight bias remains all too common in health care. The Association for Weight and Size Inclusive Medicine (AWSIM) is dedicated to building a world where patients of all sizes have access to empathetic and evidence-based health care. Providers and medical students can explore a library of resources on weight stigma and health and connect with like-minded folks through community events. AWSIM just launched in fall 2024, so we’ll be sure to stay tuned as the organization grows!

The bottom line: 2025 may feel uncertain in many ways — but we’re heartened by the fact that there’s so many organizations (and individuals!) doing the work of promoting health equity and inclusion every day. And we hope you are too! 

---

Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): To set the tone for the new year, CommunicateHealth highlights organizations that are working to make #HealthCare more inclusive. Check it out: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/things-we-❤️-organizations-that-make-health-care-more-inclusive/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm

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. 

---

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.

---

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.

---

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/