With support from the UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI), the UAMS Center for Health Literacy delivers essential health literacy and plain language services to strengthen translational research. By strengthening communication strategies, CHL helps researchers better engage with their target audiences, improving health outcomes for individuals and communities.
This year, CHL provided our plain language expertise to improve participant-facing materials at UAMS and beyond, including our assessments of video materials and ChatGPT’s educational output on cardiovascular disease (CVD) to inform content clarity and health literacy best practices. Additionally, CHL provided other educational opportunities for various research stakeholders to demonstrate how health literacy and plain language practices can strengthen research outcomes.
One standout event was a plain language workshop at the Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention Annual Scientific Retreat, led by CHL Director Katie Leath, MPH, MA. The workshop equipped faculty and research staff with practical strategies to improve communication with community members, fostering greater engagement and collaboration.
Recognizing the importance of effective research, the TRI Community Engagement Core hosted a Chat and Chew panel to explore the use of media as a tool for sharing research findings. Leath participated in the panel and emphasized the critical role of plain language in successful media engagement, ensuring that research findings are accessible and actionable for a wider audience.
Additionally, CHL extended its health literacy expertise to support the TRI Community Engagement Core’s Community Scientist Academy (CSA). CSA provides an opportunity for community members to learn about the research process to prepare them for volunteer research roles. CHL staff evaluated a CSA session using a well-established health literacy assessment tool and provided a comprehensive report with recommendations for enhancing the program’s organizational health literacy practices. The team also edited participant materials, ensuring they were easy to read, understand, and use while incorporating plain language design best practices.
By integrating health literacy and plain language into TRI’s research infrastructure, CHL is not only supporting more effective communication but also amplifying the overall impact of translational research at UAMS and beyond.