Category: We Heart Health Literacy

Remember the early days of the internet? People sat down at desktop computers to “surf the web,” patiently waited for webpages to load over a slow dial-up connection, scrolled through endless blocks of text, and asked Jeeves their burning questions (written out as full questions, mind you). Clearly, things are different now — and we have different expectations for online content. If we can’t find what we need right away, we usually move on to the next search result or social media post.

When health communicators write web content, our job is to help people find the health info they need quickly and easily. Fortunately for us, microcontent can help us reach that goal! On a website or app, a piece of microcontent is a short phrase that encourages people to take action. For example, microcontent might direct readers to move onto a new step or check out a more comprehensive resource. Some of the most common types of microcontent are page titles, headings, subject lines, and links.

These little phrases can make a big difference. Think of microcontent like a school crossing guard. If the crossing guard isn’t good at their job, students might get lost or hurt. Similarly, poorly written microcontent can confuse readers or point them in the wrong direction. A good crossing guard, on the other hand, helps kids get to school safely and efficiently. Similarly, quality microcontent guides people through your site — and helps you leaves a good first impression. When people find what they need without a big to-do, they’ll be more likely to visit your site the next time they need health info.

So today we’ve rounded up some quick tips for writing page titles and headings, 2 of the most common types of microcontent. We’ve covered some of them before, and there are some important overlapping topics here. But we’ve been thinking a lot lately about how little bits of content often have very big jobs — and we could all use a refresher. When writing titles and headings:

• Shorter is better. Concise titles and headings help readers quickly scan your content and find what they’re looking for. This also means less clutter on your beautifully designed health content.
• Make sure they make sense out of context. Imagine someone reposts part of your content on social media. Will the title or heading make sense outside of your site? Though the out-of-context title or heading may not tell the whole story, the answer should generally be yes.
• Limit idioms or expressions. These phrases may be eye-catching to some (and your clever wordplay may impress your editor), but their meaning can easily get lost in translation for readers who speak English as a second language or those who tend to think more literally.
• Put strong keywords first. Putting the phrases that people are likely to search for at the beginning of your page title or heading makes it more likely that people will find your webpage using a search engine — you know, SEO and all. But this approach also helps people scan your content more quickly.
• Think back to your communication objective(s). As you write, ask yourself: What do I want my readers to know and do? Of course that’s important to consider at every stage of the content development process, but here’s your explicit suggestion to keep your comm objective top of mind specifically when writing microcontent — that’s the most important info to sum up in your page title and headings.

For more tips to help you polish up your microcontent, check out this article from Nielsen Norman Group.

 The bottom line: When it comes to writing for the web, small phrases often have big jobs. Try these tips to improve page titles and headings.

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Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): When it comes to writing for the web, little phrases can make a big difference. Write more effective page titles and headings with these #microcontent tips from CommunicateHealth: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/microcontent-small-phrases-with-big-jobs/ #HealthComm #HealthLiteracy

If you’ve worked in health communication for more than a hot second, you’ve surely seen the term “social determinants of health” — in fact, you probably see it a lot. And for good reason: Research shows that social determinants of health have a greater impact on people’s health and well-being than medical care.

You may very well think of the term as one you only use with fellow public health or health comm professionals, and we’d agree that that’s mostly been the status quo. But as we get more explicit about the role of inequitable systems in our health communication products — by naming racism (not race!) as a risk factor for disease, for example — we think that’s changing. People deserve real explanations for information we’re giving them, and sometimes that involves communicating about social determinants of health.

The problem, of course, is that “social determinants of health” is a jargon term if there ever was one. Public health folks may use it without a second thought — but for many people, the meaning isn’t at all clear. Maybe you’re even a little fuzzy on the specifics yourself. (And no shame if you are — this is a judgment-free zone, dear readers!)

The good news is that it’s very possible to describe social determinants of health in a much more helpful and less jargon-y way. The next time you’re trying to explain social determinants of health, try something like this on for size:

Social determinants of health (sometimes called SDOH) are conditions in the places where you live, learn, work, and play that can affect your health in lots of different ways. In other words, they’re the non-medical factors that affect health and well-being, and they’re usually outside your control. They include factors like neighborhood and housing safety, air and water quality, experiences with racism and discrimination, and access to all sorts of things — like health care, education, and healthy foods.

The other important thing to remember about social determinants of health is that they’re due to often long-standing policies and systems. So if you have the space in the material you’re working on, we also suggest including an example to really drive that point home. You could say:

Because of things like environmental policies and zoning laws, some neighborhoods have lots of air pollution. If you live in one of these neighborhoods because it’s where you can afford to live, you’re more likely to have breathing problems. You have no control over the unhealthy air that you’re breathing in every day — but it’s having a negative effect on your health. That makes it a social determinant of health.

Playing out an example like this can go a long way in explaining what social determinants of health are — and why they matter. And boy oh boy do they matter.

The bottom line: “Social determinants of health” is a public health buzz term that may not mean much to your audiences. So take the time to clearly explain what they are.

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Tweet about it: “Social determinants of health” is a public health buzz term if there ever was one — but it’s also super important. @CommunicateHlth says take the time to clearly explain #SDOH: https://bit.ly/3XmTIeY

Happy New Year from all of us at We ❤️ Health Literacy HQ, dear readers! As we get back into the swing of things, we thought it would be nice to kick off 2023 with a movie recommendation. So grab your favorite movie snack and cue up the 2020 documentary Disclosure.

Disclosure comes from the talented minds of director Sam Feder and executive producer Laverne Cox. You may recognize Cox from her trans rights activism or her groundbreaking role on Orange Is the New Black — which led to her becoming the first openly trans person nominated for an Emmy in an acting category.

In the documentary, Cox and Feder frame Hollywood’s representation of trans people in movies and TV shows as a complicated double-edged sword. On the one hand, increasing visibility of trans people is certainly a positive thing. But on the other, that representation has often perpetuated damaging stereotypes.

Disclosure is an honest and powerful examination of how the entertainment industry has portrayed trans people through the years. It fully leans into the uncomfortable parts, forcing us to confront the connection between negative depictions of trans people in movies and TV and real-life mental health effects among members of the trans community. Using media clips and candid interviews with leading trans thinkers and creatives, Disclosure untangles the depictions of trans people and the implications ­of those depictions — while looking critically at how being trans intersects with other identities, like those related to race and class.

As you can tell, there’s a lot to unpack here. And the doc definitely has some helpful reminders for health communicators — for example, about the importance of avoiding (and counteracting!) stereotypes and communicating with empathy. And you know how we’re fond of encouraging you to test your materials with your priority audience — which is, of course, the best way to make sure you’re doing those things? Well, we’re not going to do that today. We won’t even suggest seeking out informal feedback if you don’t have the resources for testing. Nope, not us. Instead, we’ll let Disclosure remind all of us that there’s nothing more informative than hearing from folks directly about their lived experiences.

And finally, we really ❤️ how trans joy shines through Disclosure despite the often-difficult subject matter of the film. Speaking of reminders, we’re living in a time when trans people in this country are under attack, especially young trans people. And as health communicators, we can do our part to foster trans joy by creating resources that center the needs and real-life experiences of trans people.

The bottom line: Watch Disclosure for a deep dive into the history of trans representation in the entertainment industry — plus some helpful reminders for health communicators.

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Tweet about it: Watch #DisclosureDoc for a deep dive into the history of trans representation in the entertainment industry — plus, says @CommunicateHlth, some helpful reminders for health communicators: https://bit.ly/3CqbAh5 @Disclosure_Doc

Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy HQ, we’ve been talking a lot (a lot a lot) about equity. You probably have been too, our dearest readers! After all, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted longstanding inequities that shape health outcomes — inequities rooted in racism, ableism, and other types of discrimination. Talking about ways to center equity in our work is an important first step. But figuring out what equity looks like in real life? That can get tricky. Luckily, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has some visuals to help us do just that.

Back in 2017, RWJF crafted a simple illustration of 4 people riding bikes to explain the difference between equality and equity. (To sum it up quickly, “equality” means everyone gets the same kind of bike, while “equity” means everyone gets a bike tailored to their needs.) Tons of people told RWJF that the graphic helped them understand and explain the concept of equity, which is great. But the RWJF team didn’t stop there — they decided to make it even better!

This year, RWJF redesigned the graphic to better reflect the organization’s commitment to advancing health equity. They followed a human-centered design process by:

• Conducting a survey of RWJF newsletter subscribers
• Gathering feedback from people who have experienced barriers to access — like people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities
• Considering how and where people would use the graphic

Based on audience feedback, RWJF both updated the bike image and created an all-new graphic with a crosswalk scene. The crosswalk image shows how curb cuts and accessible traffic signals help everyone cross the street safely. Both graphics paint a more nuanced picture, illustrating how barriers to access impact different groups of people. And RWJF added captions to make the main message crystal clear.

In her blog post about the new visuals, graphic designer Joan Barlow said she strives to approach all design challenges with empathy for her audience. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves — as you may know, we’re big fans of empathy in health comm. And we really appreciate how RWJF used human-centered design to make a helpful visual even better. Hats off!

The bottom line: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s new graphics help us visualize the difference between equality and equity. And the RWJF team used a human-centered design process to create them!

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Tweet about it: New graphics from @RWJF can help us visualize the difference between equality and #equity. AND the RWJF team used a human-centered design process to create them! @CommunicateHlth explains: https://bit.ly/3FVP9ST #HealthComm #HealthEquity

Last month, we shared some ways to make sexual health content more inclusive and accessible. And today we’re following up with a few more tips to help you create inclusive sexual health resources. Let’s jump in!

Use gender-conscious language. This is our general recommendation for addressing gender in health comm. It means being thoughtful about using gendered language when gender is important — and using gender-neutral language when it’s not. (Other terms for this are gender-aware, gender-sensitive, and gender-inclusive language.) In sexual health comm, you tend to see a lot of gendered terms like “women’s health” and “male condom.” But those common phrases can leave transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people out of the conversation.

Opting for gender-neutral language in these cases can certainly make your materials more inclusive — and, as a bonus, it often helps streamline your content! Check out these simple swaps: 

• “Your partner” instead of “your boyfriend or girlfriend”
• “They” instead of “he or she”

Of course, there are times when gender-conscious language takes a little extra time or space. For example, “if your partner has a penis” is more inclusive (and specific!) than “if your partner is male.” But it’s well worth the effort to show LGBTQ+ readers that you’re thinking about their needs and experiences.

Bring disability into the sexual health conversation. While we’re (slowly) starting to see more authentic disability representation in the media, harmful stereotypes linger — like the assumption that people with disabilities can’t or don’t have sex. In reality, of course, many people with disabilities have and enjoy sex! And disability can shape how people experience sexuality. For example, recent studies show that autistic people are more likely to identify as LGBTQ+. Chronic pain, mobility, and sensory issues can play a role in people’s sex lives, too. These factors can also make routine sexual health care like pelvic exams more challenging, especially if doctors don’t know how to accommodate their patients’ needs.

It’s important to recognize that people with disabilities are less likely to receive sexual education and face a higher risk of sexual assault. Because of ableism in our society, some people with disabilities may get the message that their comfort, their boundaries — and ultimately, their consent — don’t matter. As health communicators, we’ve got an opportunity to challenge these harmful messages and make readers with disabilities feel seen in our sexual health resources.

We know this is a lot to think about when writing, say, a single fact sheet. So here’s a simple but meaningful first step: Include images of people who use mobility aids (like wheelchairs or canes) and assistive devices (like prosthetics, ostomy bags, or hearing aids) in your materials. Then consider how you can include diverse perspectives and experiences of disability in your content. Which leads us to…

Talk to your audience! Yep, you knew it was coming, dear readers: When you’re creating sexual health resources, include your audience in the process. Ask them what they need to know about sexual health and what they like or dislike about existing resources. Take time to learn about their experiences with sexual health and sexuality. Getting input from your audience is always a good idea, even if there’s not much room in your budget.

The bottom line: As health communicators, we have an opportunity to create sexual health resources that help readers feel seen and valued.

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Tweet about it: Make your #SexualHealth content more inclusive and accessible with these tips from @CommunicateHlth: https://bit.ly/3Y8Jjod #HealthComm #HealthLiteracy

In today’s 24/7 news cycle, it seems like every bit of news gets pushed into the spotlight and flashes across a million screens before we even have time to say, well, anything! But every now and then, big news is a bit slower leaving the nest. Such was the case earlier this week when particularly attentive Twitter users spotted a stealthy one-sentence update to the platform’s online rules: “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy.”

This update comes just days after Twitter’s owner Elon Musk announced he’d be reopening the accounts of users that had been suspended for hate speech, harassment, and spreading misinformation. Given how many people use social media as a source of news and information, this is certainly a setback.

It’s true that in terms of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, we’re in a much better place now — due in large part to vaccines. But it’s also true that COVID-19 — and other viruses like the flu and RSV — continue to threaten public health. Our ability to respond to these threats depends on our ability to communicate scientific information honestly, accurately, and with integrity — and to give people the information they need to protect themselves and their communities.

As health communicators, we may not be able to control what happens in the digital town square. But there are some things we can do. First and most importantly, we can keep using health literacy strategies to clearly communicate science to our audiences. We can also:

• Combat COVID-19 misinformation
• Partner with trusted messengers to reach our audiences
• Sign up for the COVID-19 Community Corps
• Join the fight against vaccine misinformation

If you have other ideas for these trying times, please share! As always, you can respond to this email or tweet us @CommunicateHlth. Trying to untangle the web of online misinformation and harmful content might seem daunting. (Okay, it definitely seems daunting.) But together, dear readers, we’ll press on — working and advocating for health comm that’s truthful, accurate, and empowering.

Because everyone deserves that.

The bottom line: Twitter’s COVID-19 misleading information policy is no more. Communicators of accurate information unite!

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Tweet about it: RIP, Twitter #COVID19 misleading information policy. @CommunicateHlth has thoughts for health communicators in light of this social setback: https://bit.ly/3FimuHh #HealthComm #HealthLiteracy

In September, FDA proposed new criteria for using the term “healthy” on food labels. Under the new rule, food products would need to have a certain amount of food from at least one of the food groups (like vegetables or grains) recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Products would also have to meet specific limits for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. We’re sure you can figure out where our brains went: Will this new “healthy” claim on foods actually help people make informed choices at the grocery store?

We all know that product labels can be misleading. Labels are often designed to sell products, not to help people make decisions that will benefit their lives. If you’re a parent, you’ve almost certainly had to explain to your unamused, unimpressed children that — despite the name containing the word “fruit” — fruit snacks are actually candy! When it comes to people trying to make healthy choices, label lies and embellishments can be a real problem.

It’s also no secret that the way our foods are labeled is somewhat flawed. While many claims on food packaging (think “less fat” and “good source of fiber”) are regulated by FDA, they can be misleading, too. A bag of potato chips with “40% less fat” is still a processed food that’s high in calories and low in nutritional value. A “heart-healthy” breakfast cereal may be high in fiber, but it can still have tons of added sugars. And once you get to calling foods “clean” or “natural,” it’s basically the Wild West out there.

Of course, there is a label that tells it like it really is: the good old Nutrition Facts label! It’s not particularly exciting, but at least it’s honest about what’s in our food. Unfortunately, the Nutrition Facts label has a few problems of its own if you’re looking at it through a health literacy lens. In a word, it’s… confusing! To use it effectively, you need to understand numbers, like Percent Daily Value. You also need some pretty serious background knowledge to make meaning of those numbers. For example, you need to know that some foods high in total fat can be healthy if they’re low in saturated fat.

FDA also announced it will be working on a “front-of-package labeling system” that empowers people to make healthy choices by more effectively communicating nutrition info. While we don’t have any information yet on what this new labeling system might look like, we’ll be following the news closely — and we know you will, too. In the meantime, we’ll keep noodling on how we can improve our food labeling system. A look across the pond may offer some inspiration: For example, the UK has tried out a “traffic light” approach — a color-coding system that tells consumers how the product fares in terms of key nutrients like fat, sugar, and salt.

We won’t sugar coat it, dear readers — this one’s tricky. Even before getting into systemic problems or issues with nutrition science, we’re dealing with super complicated, number-heavy, very personal (ahem, what you put in your body) communication that’s supposed to be appropriate for everyone — people with very high and very low literacy and numeracy skills, people who need to follow a special diet and people who don’t, and so forth. It’s a tall order.

We certainly don’t have all the answers. So we’re curious to hear from you: What do you think needs to happen to improve food labels? How can we create understandable nutrition guidance that helps people make healthy choices? Respond to this email or tweet us @CommunicateHlth!

The bottom line: FDA has proposed new criteria for putting “healthy” on food labels, and it has us thinking about how to tame the trickiness of communicating nutrition info on food packaging.

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Tweet about it: FDA has proposed new criteria for using the word “healthy” on food packaging. Could this “healthy” claim on foods actually help people make informed choices at the grocery store? #HealthComm food for thought from @CommunicateHlth: https://bit.ly/3NSxRIQ #HealthLiteracy

As you know, dear readers, we’re all about inclusive health communication here at We ❤️ Health Literacy HQ. And one topic that we think could use a more inclusive approach is sexual health.

When it comes to sex, it’s easy to assume that everyone has the same general needs and generally experiences the same trajectory. If you think about it, we learn those expectations pretty early in life. When we hear comments like “One day, you’ll get married and have kids of your own,” or “When you get older, you’ll start having feelings for [boys/girls],” we learn that there’s a “normal” path to follow. But the fact is, those oversimplified narratives leave a lot of people out.

In reality, of course, human sexuality is incredibly diverse! And with reproductive rights and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the news, it’s more important than ever to create sexual health comm resources that reflect the diverse identities and experiences of our audiences. After all, when people see themselves represented in health materials, they’re more likely to connect with the messages and apply them to their own lives. So this week, we’re bringing you tips for creating inclusive sexual health content.

Tiny housekeeping note before we jump in: This post is part 1, meaning we’ll follow up with a part 2 (we just couldn’t fit it all into 1 post and we think you’ll see why) and maybe additional parts after that! This is a complex and nuanced topic, and we’re here for your opinions and insights — tweet us @CommunicateHlth or respond to this email with comments or ideas for future installments. Okay, back to our first set of tips:

Make the implicit explicit. When you’re writing about sexual health, ditch the euphemisms and offer clear info and action steps. This can look like lots of different things — calling body parts by their “real” names, for example.

Or take CDC’s behavioral recommendations for slowing the spread of monkeypox over the summer, which included mutual masturbation at a distance. And it wasn’t phrased as a vague “self-pleasuring activity” or some such. Rather, CDC said exactly what it meant: “Masturbate together at a distance of at least 6 feet, without touching each other.” How clear! And yes, you may need to explain “masturbate” in plain language depending on the context, but the point is to say what you mean. This makes your content more accessible to everyone, and it’s especially helpful for readers who didn’t have access to comprehensive sex education growing up — which, as you may know, is a rather alarming number of Americans.

Watch out for sneaky assumptions about sexual “milestones.” Many sexual health resources imply that there’s a normal-ish time to start having sex (usually in our teens or early 20s). These not-so-subtle assumptions can alienate people who start having sex later in life — or choose not to have sex at all. Plus, they may remind some readers of awkward or painful moments at the doctor’s office.

For example, asexual people have shared negative experiences with providers who made intrusive comments about their sexual history, framed their orientation as a mental health issue, or treated their asexuality as a medical problem to be solved. So watch out for language that points to a (non-existent) universal sexual experience, like “everyone” or “when you become sexually active.” Instead, frame having sex as a choice that adults can make at any age, based on their own needs and values.

Squash the shame. If there were ever a time to watch out for potentially shameful undertones/overtones/any-direction-tones from (well-intended) health content, this is it. Many of us grew up with all kinds of shame-based messages about sex. It’s easy to see how shame plays a role in religious messaging about abstinence and sexual “purity.” But purity culture affects all of us, and it shows up in public health messaging, too.

For example, some sexual health resources may imply that having sex with multiple partners is bad, or that certain people are at higher risk for STDs simply because of their LGBTQ+ identity. So think carefully about how you’re framing “risky” behaviors and watch out for those unintended shame messages — especially language that conflates a person’s identity and their behaviors. As an antidote to shame, when the context is right, consider emphasizing that sex is an important (and fun!) part of life for many people — and that’s something to celebrate.

And that’s where we’re going to leave it for today — stay tuned for part 2 coming up very soon!

The bottom line: Everyone deserves accessible information about sexual health! Try these tips to make your sexual health content more inclusive.

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Tweet about it: Everyone deserves accessible info about #SexualHealth! Check out some tips from @CommunicateHlth to make your sexual health content more inclusive — and stay tuned for more: https://bit.ly/3DAzt54 #HealthComm #HealthLiteracy

Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy HQ, we know clear communication makes everything better — but that won’t stop us from shouting it from the rooftops whenever we get the chance! And today, we’re talking about how health literacy and clear communication best practices can improve clinical trials.

The process of developing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments highlighted just how important clinical trials are to our health care system. It also revealed lots of gaps in how much people know about them and how they work. Using health literacy best practices in communication can help bridge that gap, and we can start by explaining clinical trials in plain language — from the basic definition to vaccine trial phases.

But it’s just as important to think about communication within clinical trials. That’s because using health literacy strategies can help build trust in the clinical trial process. The pandemic has shown how important it is that people not only feel it’s safe to enroll in clinical trials — but also that they trust the results of those trials. And you might (not) be surprised to hear, dear readers, that we’d say the best way to build trust is to communicate clearly and transparently about every step of the clinical trial process, starting with…

…enrollment! Research shows that when people don’t understand why clinical trials are important and how they work, they’re much less likely to consider participating in one — even if they could benefit from getting a trial treatment. Clear communication strategies can help reach and recruit people who might otherwise be left out of the process.

To be clear, there are lots of systemic problems that can keep people from enrolling in clinical trials — implicit racism and bias in the health care system, lack of access to health care and insurance, and a shortage of medical centers in rural areas that can facilitate clinical trials, to name a few.

Health literacy strategies alone won’t solve these issues. But they can help people understand exactly what participating in a clinical trial entails — including possible risks and benefits. Complex, jargon-y materials are a huge barrier to clinical trial participation, especially for people who have lower literacy skills or whose first language isn’t English. Making sure consent forms and other materials are easy to understand and translated into different languages can help address these weighty — and often undiscussed — barriers.

But clear communication doesn’t only help people enroll in trials. Clear instructions throughout the trial help participants follow trial protocols, like taking a drug correctly and scheduling regular visits with their trial doctor. This leads to more reliable results — not to mention less stress and better outcomes for participants.

Finally, communicating clinical trial results in a way that’s accessible to everyone can build trust in those results. And when people trust the results of trials, they’re more likely to make research-backed health decisions, which lead to better health outcomes. We can’t think of a better reason to shout (in plain language) about clinical trials from the rooftops.

The bottom line: Health literacy and clear communication strategies can improve all aspects of clinical trials — and that’s more important than ever.

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Post about it: CommunicateHealth explains why using #HealthLiteracy strategies to communicate about — and within — clinical trials is so important. Check it out: https://bit.ly/3MLTnOZ