6. Choose Relatable and Authentic Visuals Include people of dierent ages, races and ethnicities, genders, abilities, and body types. Avoid reinforcing stereotypes. For example, do not show only White male doctors in health materials. 7. Make Your Advice Easy to Act on Empathetic health communication includes providing manageable action steps. Try these tips: • Give clear action steps: Be specific about what to do and how to do it. Tell readers how they will benefit from taking action. • Include visuals: People may struggle to follow written directions, especially when they are stressed or overwhelmed. Consider adding photos, illustrations, or infographics to help readers understand key action steps. • Make sure action steps are doable: Con- sider barriers that might prevent read- ers from acting. For example, if lack of health insurance is a barrier for your readers, link to free or low-cost health service resources. When people see themselves reflected in health communication materials, they are more likely to connect with our messages and follow our recommendations. By taking a clear and inclusive approach to health com- munication, we can help our readers feel seen and heard.
• Pair newer, more inclusive terms with more familiar terms: For example, if you are writing about reproduc- tive health, you could use the phrase “women and people with uteruses” to be more inclusive of transgender and nonbinary audiences. 4. Consider Person-First Versus Identity- First Language, But Use What Your Audi- ence Prefers Many people learn that person-first lan- guage (“person experiencing homeless- ness,” not “homeless person”) is always the most respectful approach. But some groups prefer identity-first language (“deaf person,” not “person who is deaf”). If you are not sure, talk to members of your intended audience. 5. Acknowledge Uncertainty and Challenges People often feel vulnerable in uncertain situations, such as when they are facing a health threat. Check out these tips: • Be honest about what you do not know: Acknowledge that researchers are still learning new information and that the situation might change over time. • Emphasize what you do know: State the facts based on the latest science and cite trustworthy sources. • Help people spot misinformation and pseudoscience: Encourage readers to get trustworthy information from their local health department or university. If readers have specific health concerns, suggest that they talk with their healthcare provider.
Additional Resources
Communication, National Center for Envi- ronmental Health/Agency for Toxic Sub- stances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341. Email: tee1@cdc.gov. Reference Agness, C., Murrell, E., Nkansah, N., & McHenry, C. (2008). Poor health literacy as a barrier to patient care. The Consultant Pharmacist , 23 (5), 378–386. https://doi. org/10.4140/tcp.n.2008.378 • Watch these three online training modules to improve the clarity of your materials: www.cdc.gov/nceh/ clearwriting/clear_writing_training_ modules/index.html • Improve your understanding of health literacy with this online training: www.train.org/cdctrain/ course/1105934/details Explore these resources from the Clear Writing Hub offered by the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. • Use these ve tips for communicating with empathy: www. cdc.gov/nceh/clearwriting/health- communication-empathy.html
Corresponding Author: Traci Augustosky, Team Lead, Writer-Editor Services, Oce of
Show the world you are the environmental health expert you know you are with a credential. You might even earn more or get promoted. neha.org/credentials Stand out in the crowd.
51
December 2023 • Journal of Environmental Health
Powered by FlippingBook