Plain Language Resources

On this page you will find a list of websites, articles, books and reports. All of the information on this site is available on the web or by request from the HRSRH Health Sciences Library  (library@hrsrh.on.ca).

 Plain Language

  • What is Plain Language and Clear Design  
  • Guidelines for creating patient resources 
  • Readabilty assessment tools
  • Plain Language Tools  
Guidelines for creating patient resources

American Medical Association . (2003) Health Literacy: help your patients understand [kit].

Chicago:American Medical Association Foundation.

 

Canadian Public Health Association National Literacy and Health Program. (1998)  Easy does it: plain

language and clear verbal communication. Ottawa: Canadian Public Health Association.

DISCERN – quality criteria for consumer health information- www.discern.org.uk/ 

Hamilton
Health Sciences (2008)
Writing health information for patients and families: A guide to creating 
patient education materials that are easy to read, understand and use. Hamilton: Hamilton Health Science.

Jewish General Hospital (2008) How to create effective written patient learning materials. Montreal:Jewish General Hospital.

SAM – Suitability Assessment of Materials - 
http://www.aspiruslibrary.org/literacy/SAM.pdf

U.S. Dept of Health and human services (2006). Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines.

Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.   View Report

usability.gov

usabilitynet.org

Wilson, F., Baker, L. Brown-Syed, C., Gollop, C. (2000). An Analysis of the readability and cultural sensitivity of information on the National Cancer Institute’s website: CancerNet.™ Oncology Nursing Forum 27(9), 1403-1409.

What is Plain Language and Clear Design

Karten, C. (2007). Easy to Write? Creating Easy-to-Read Patient Education Materials. Journal Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 11(4), 506-510

National Cancer Institute. (2003). Clear & Simple: Developing Effective Print Materials for Low-Literate Readers. Retrieved on June 16,  2008, from http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/oc/clear-and-simple 

van Haaften, Jami. (2010). Health Literary & Plain Language [PowerPoint Presentation].