Health Literacy: The Hidden Barrier
By Andrea Miller
Associate Director, Editorial Operations and Strategy
People with low health literacy struggle to understand, access, and act on health information, resulting in a ripple effect of negative health outcomes. Although numbers vary, a recent study of nearly 3000 US adults found that 60% showed inadequate health literacy.
The good news? You’re poised to make a positive impact on patient literacy in the life sciences, even if you don’t directly develop patient-facing materials. In this post, we’ll examine 10 steps you can take to help remove industry-wide barriers to health literacy.
What Is Health Literacy?
Health literacy includes reading, basic math, and other skills that help us find and use health information to make informed decisions. To understand the effects of low health literacy, imagine seeing your doctor about an ongoing health issue. At the visit, you receive a prescription, along with a thick stack of paperwork that explains how to take the medication as well as possible side effects. You know this information is important but struggle with the dense paragraphs, unclear instructions, and medical terms you don’t understand.
This scenario is frustratingly common for people who lack health literacy skills, and it can lead to problems such as a higher risk of medication errors and greater difficulty managing chronic disease.
The impacts of low health literacy disproportionately affect underserved groups, including people who:
- Are ages 65 and older
- Have limited income or low socioeconomic status
- Are uninsured or have Medicare or Medicaid
In fact, 60% of Medicaid members fall into the “basic” or “below basic” health literacy categories—more than double that of those with employer-sponsored health coverage.
Faced with such a clear need, those of us in life sciences professions, no matter our role, must explore proactive ways that we can improve how health information is created and provided to those across the industry.
Practical Steps That Move the Needle
Progress toward stronger, more accessible materials doesn’t need to be a heavy lift. Whether you create content or provide education to colleagues, providers, pharmacies, or other stakeholders, I encourage you to consider ways to integrate small, intentional changes into your work to enhance clarity and understanding for your audiences.
1. Lean on Plain Language
Short sentences, everyday vocabulary, and active voice all help get your message across. Where appropriate, use numbered or bulleted lists, which can help break down complex concepts such as benefits verification into digestible steps.
2. Get Creative With Graphics
Add images to create another way for readers to digest your message. For patient-facing materials, try incorporating simple graphics that show how to prepare for a procedure, take medication, or choose healthy food options. Case managers can rely on flowcharts and other diagrams to illustrate processes such as medication access pathways.
3. Structure Information in Layers
When drafting a complex message or document, start with simple, straightforward concepts. Lead with the essential info, such as what to do, when, and why. Next, add details for readers who want or need more context to connect with the material.
4. Connect Via Interactive Tools
Use quizzes, step-by-step tutorials, or short videos that appeal to hands-on learners. Gamified platforms can reinforce understanding better than text alone and offer a fun way to break down challenging content like insurance coverage.
5. Champion Inclusivity
Test materials with real patients, not just internal teams. Include voices across cultures, ages, and literacy levels. Their insights can reveal content concerns you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. For example, make sure explanations about concepts such as prior authorization reflect real member experiences.
6. Incorporate Accessibility Aids
Simple additions like voice assistants, alt text, and high-contrast design make it easier for people with disabilities to connect with your content. Ultimately, these small changes can improve the experience for all users.
7. Explore AI With Human Oversight
AI tools can support strong patient communication. These smart digital resources can:
- Transform medical jargon into everyday language
- Personalize materials based on user input
- Check digital platforms for usability issues
- Translate content into other languages
Keep in mind that if digital tools aren’t designed inclusively, they can deepen the digital divide. Evaluate new tech to ensure incorporating it makes sense for your audience.
8. Build Awareness Internally
Streamline communication with cross-functional groups to foster shared understanding. In a regulatory environment, for example, medical, regulatory, legal, and communications teams should collaborate to understand health literacy principles.
9. Apply UX Methodology
User experience (UX) principles have been a mainstay of digital design for decades. Pay attention to UX by showcasing clean layouts, seamless navigation, simple visual aids, and plain language. Instead of long blocks of text, experiment with step-by-step guides and brief “what you need to know now” summaries.
10. Support Diverse Formats
Not everyone learns best through text. Some people need visuals, some prefer video or audio, and some need materials in their primary language. Build or advocate for content libraries that offer multiple formats so users can choose what works best for them.
Treat Health Literacy as a Strategic Capability
Improving health literacy isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating trust, supporting audiences, and reducing avoidable costs and complications across the healthcare system. Although these aims might sound overly complicated, remember that we don’t have to fix every health literacy concern at once. Steady, intentional changes within your role can collectively, meaningfully move the needle.
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Andrea Miller has more than 2 decades of experience in medical communications and holds a medical editing certificate from the American Medical Writers Association. As an associate director of editorial operations and strategy for Encompass, she helps clients create engaging educational content that connects with audiences.
