Category: We Heart Health Literacy

Here at We ❤ Health Literacy Headquarters, we talk a lot about adding visuals to health content. This week, we’re talking about a visual element that’s both simple and powerful: the icon.

Icons are simple representations of concepts or actions — visual abbreviations, if you will. They make it really easy to communicate without a lot of words. This, of course, is great for everyone — but it’s especially important for low literacy readers or folks who aren’t entirely comfortable reading the language you’re communicating in.

Icons also help your readers make an immediate visual connection with your health material, which draws them in and gets them itching to learn more.

As you can probably tell, we’re pretty psyched about using icons. We want you on board, too! Here are a few particulars to get you going:

• Keep your icons simple and clear (complex icons can be confusing)
• Use icons to support, but not to replace, your content
• If you use icons for website navigation, also include a clear label (this will help you avoid a hamburger menu icon horror story)
• Use icons to highlight the positive (if you use them to illustrate the negative, your readers could end up doing exactly what you don’t want them to do)
• Test the icons to make sure your audience understands them

Ready to get started? Luckily, you don’t have to create icons from scratch. There are tons of free icons available from the Noun Project and other similar sites.

And just to be super clear: icons and clip art aren’t the same. We urge you, as ever, to skip the clip art.

The bottom line: Use icons to draw your readers in and support your health content.

We’ve talked before, dear readers, about some of the more technical aspects of health communication on the web, like how to make sure your content is accessible. But what if your web content (and your website) exists only in the futuristic ether at the moment?

Welcome to the first installment of a new, occasional series of posts about how to build your own website! Today we’re talking about tools — as in, tools for building a website if you don’t have designers and developers to do it for you. Here are a few free or low-cost options you may want to consider.

• Drupal is a powerful website platform with near-infinite options for functionality. It’s probably more than you need if your website plans are fairly simple (think: a few pages and a blog), but we’re including it here because we like the flexibility it offers.
• Kirby is an up-and-coming platform that’s become a favorite of our developers. It’s a bit more limited than Drupal, but it’s reliable and capable (like a well-built, mid-sized car). You’ll need a wee bit of techie knowledge to get the most out of Kirby, but the simple interface makes it really user friendly. And there’s plenty of room to grow if you want to add a lot more pages or an extra-cool feature (like an interactive map) at some point later on.
• And for the completely non-techie folks out there, WordPress is a solid option. It’s easy for anybody to use because you never have to touch any HTML code, and it makes it pretty simple to customize your site’s look and feel.

So there you have it, dear readers — there are plenty of options to choose from! Now get to building … and stay tuned for more posts about other aspects of creating a website of your very own.

The bottom line: You can build your own health website — with a little help from your friends.

The English language (though beautiful) can be downright confusing sometimes, dear readers. That’s why, in a slight departure from our customary topic of health literacy, our editors have begged and pleaded with us to do a post about one of the most common mistakes we see in health communication: the dreaded “affect” vs. “effect” switch-a-roo.

“Affect” and “effect” are homophones (words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings). Homophones are the English language’s way of keeping us on our toes (think “they’re,” “there,” and “their”), and “affect” vs. “effect” is no exception.

Since we use these terms an awful lot when writing about health, it’s important to keep track of which is which.

Effect is most commonly used as a noun (i.e., a person, place, thing, or idea). It tends to come up when you’re talking about how something impacts your health.

• Health effects of smoking include lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease.

Affect is most commonly used as a verb (i.e., an action word) that means to have an effect on something.

• Smoking cigarettes can negatively affect your health — and lead to health problems like lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease.

So there you have it!

The bottom line: Know the difference between “affect” and “effect” to keep things clear and correct.

Accessibility is an issue that’s near and dear to our ❤s here at We ❤ Health Literacy Headquarters. We’ve shared accessibility tips before, but today we wanted to steer your attention specifically to keyboard navigation. (Get it?!)

Keyboard navigation is when users browse a website’s links and content using the tab and enter keys instead of a mouse or touch screen. It’s used by people with physical disabilities who can’t operate a mouse — and by blind and visually impaired people who rely on screen readers. (Curious how screen readers work? Check out this demo video.)

We know that most people skim and scan web pages to quickly find what interests them. But if you’re using keyboard navigation, you don’t have that option — you have to go through each link or section of content in order. Of course, dear readers, we’re sure that your content is already in the best possible order. How about your links and page elements?

To make sure your website is smooth sailing for people using keyboard navigation, try these tips — or share them with your favorite web developer:

• Pay attention to focus order (also called tab order) — that’s the order that links and page elements “come into focus” as you tab through them. A focus order that makes sense will help users easily navigate your site.
• Include skip links, especially if you have a lot of links in your top navigation. This lets users skip to the main content without rereading the navigation on every page.
• Test, test, test! Take your hand off the mouse and try to navigate your site using the tab and enter keys. If you have access to a popular screen reader like JAWS, use it to test your site — or try the free screen reader plugin for Chrome.

The bottom line: For people who use keyboard navigation, a few small tweaks to your website can make a big difference.

This week, we’re adding to our catalog of “use simpler words” entries. Though many of the terms we address are health-specific, we also tackle overly complicated words that have worked their way into health content.

This week’s word belongs to the second category, and we unequivocally recommend skipping it altogether.

Can you spot the unapproachable non-health term in the following examples?

• Call the doctor if your child’s fever exceeds 102 °F.
• Don’t exceed 6 tablets in 24 hours.
• Try not to exceed your maximum recommended heart rate during physical activity.

Instead of “exceed,” which isn’t the plainest of words, why not just say what you mean?

• Call the doctor if your child’s fever is higher than 102 °F.
• Don’t take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.
• Try not to go above your maximum recommended heart rate during physical activity.

As you can see, dear readers, there really is no need to use “exceed” in your health content.

The bottom line: File “exceed” in the category of words that have no place in your plain language health materials.

Since January, Zika virus has generated frenzied headlines, public health controversy, wild conspiracy theories, and a lot of anxiety — especially for women who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant. And as summer arrives in the United States (and backyards once again fill up with mosquitoes), public interest is bound to intensify.

Emerging health threats like Zika and Ebola put health communicators in a tough spot. How can we talk about them honestly and clearly without stoking unhelpful fear? We’ve got a few ideas, dear readers.

Put the risk in context. Be clear about the danger, specifically to pregnant women in affected areas. But it’s equally important to clarify where the virus isn’t. If it’s not in the region where your readers are, say so. Point out that in most cases the virus is mild and goes away in a week or less.

Use plain language. This will be no surprise to our regular readers, but never throw around terms like “microcephaly” or “Guillain-Barré syndrome” without clearly explaining what they are.

Be honest about what we don’t know. Will Zika reach the U.S. this summer? Could it cause more serious complications in adults? No one knows yet, and that’s scary. But keep in mind that acknowledging uncertainty is a lot better than pretending it doesn’t exist. Glossing over the unknowns can make people feel suspicious or deceived, and that’s not going to help anyone.

Emphasize what people can actually do. Vague menaces like Zika can leave people feeling helpless. So always emphasize how people can take action. For example, clearly state CDC’s travel recommendations. Tell people about steps they can take to prevent mosquito bites.

Tell your audience to stay tuned for updates. When you’re dealing with uncertain dangers, encouraging people to be aware and learn more may be the most important message.

The bottom line: Take the time to think through what your readers need to know about Zika — and avoid causing panic.

“Health Lit Live” is our series of interviews with the movers and shakers on the health literacy scene. This week, our imaginary illustrated host Doug Doodleman sits down with Stacy Bailey, PhD, MPH and Gang Fang, PharmD, PhD from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. They’re here to talk about the new Health Literacy Data Map they developed.

Doug: What an exciting day, readers — 2 guests at once! Double combo! We had to steal our intern’s stool so they could both sit down! So, Dr. Bailey and Dr. Fang, tell me about this Health Literacy Data Map you’ve been working on.

Dr. Bailey: I’d be happy to, Doug. It’s an online, searchable map of health literacy estimates for the entire United States.

Doug: I like the sound of it. But speaking as the beloved host of an award-winning health literacy focused talk show — I’ve noticed one glaring problem. Why can’t I find the Health Lit Live studio on this map?

Dr. Fang: Actually —

Doug: I mean, if you’re talking health literacy, that’s kind of like leaving Mount Rushmore off a —

Dr. Fang: Let me clarify that it’s not a map to the monuments of health literacy. It’s a tool for researchers and policymakers.

Dr. Bailey: Doug, we already know that low health literacy is associated with serious health disparities. By mapping estimated health literacy levels, we can identify communities that might be at risk and then target interventions there — like increasing access to health care services.

Doug: Oh, I get it! But how do you collect information about the health literacy of so many people? Health-seeking satellites? Self-driving car-tographers? Or did you just go door to door quizzing people, asking them what words like “pruritus” mean?

Dr. Bailey: No, we —

Doug: It means itching. Pruritus. I’m extremely health literate. I must show up super glowy on your map right now!

Dr. Fang: That’s not how it works, Doug.

Dr. Bailey: We didn’t assess people individually. It’s an estimate of an area’s health literacy at a census block group level, based on data from the U.S. Census and 5-year American Community Surveys (ACS) summary files.

Dr. Fang: We used variables like age, the language people speak at home, their income, education, and other factors in a model that predicts the health literacy of people living in census block groups. The map ranks areas using the well-known National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) categories as well as some others, like quartiles.

Doug: That is genius! So how do you use the map?

Dr. Bailey: Just go to the site, choose a state on the interactive map, and zoom in all the way to a specific area. Health literacy levels are color-coded, with high shown as green, low as red. You can compare specific areas within a state and nationally.

Dr. Fang: When you’re done, you can download the data you need for your research.

Doug: Well that’s pretty amazing! I guess I could say that you 2 are really putting health literacy on the map? Am I right?

Dr. Fang: I suppose you could say that, Doug.

Doug: Thanks to both of you! And readers — go check out the Health Literacy Data Map!

The bottom line: Use the Health Literacy Data Map to plan your next health literacy intervention or research study.

Some health issues are really hard to talk about — and even harder to live with. As health writers, it’s part of our job to recognize when health topics require an especially empathetic and compassionate tone (think incontinence, sexually transmitted diseases, depression, or memory problems).

Here are some of our tried-and-true tips for writing about sensitive health topics.

Start by putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. What would it be like to live with a health issue you don’t fully understand? What if you were too nervous to talk about it with friends, family, and doctors? What type of information would ease your concerns? What information could increase your knowledge about how to cope with or improve the condition?

Frame it as a common concern. People who are sick or uncomfortable are often scared, too. Try saying something like, “Many people who’ve been abused by a partner have…” or “Some people with herpes find they…” Making an experience seem more common can help it seem less scary.

Acknowledge emotions. Negative emotions like fear and shame can get in the way of clear thinking and making healthy choices. You can make things a little easier for your readers by acknowledging their feelings. You could say: “It may be hard to talk with your doctor about your concerns, but it’s important.”

Be encouraging. You certainly want to keep things positive when writing about a sensitive health topic. Think about including a larger message of hope like, “It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but lots of people have learned to live with a colostomy bag — and you can, too.”

The bottom line: Help people face sensitive health issues by letting them know they’re not alone.

Dear readers, it’s time to return to our unofficial “use simpler words” series. Today’s word is a card-carrying member of the just-plain-vague club: “impaired.”

Most of the time, you can replace “impaired” with a specific description of what is actually impaired — and what that means for your reader. This will make your writing easier to understand, and you know how much we ❤ that.

Consider these examples:

• Drinking alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to react to things quickly, which can increase the risk of car accidents.
• This medicine may cause impaired kidney function.

Instead, try:

• Drinking alcohol causes you to react to things more slowly, which can make it more likely that you’ll be in a car accident.
• When you’re taking this medicine, your kidneys may not work as well.

But what about specific phrases that include “impaired” — like “people who are visually or hearing impaired”? In these cases, use the language that your audience uses. That might be “people who are blind or visually impaired” or “people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

And, as always, if you absolutely must use the word “impaired,” be sure to explain or define it.

The bottom line: Don’t let “impaired” get in the way of clear writing.