What is plain language assessment?
Patient and consumer health materials are often difficult for people to read and understand. Assessing written materials is a first step in ensuring materials are clear and effective, and often draws attention to content in need of plain language editing. Assessment can include:
- Readability assessments that describe the level of difficulty of the material
- Formal evaluation of how easy the content is to understand and act upon
How does UAMS CHL assess health materials?
Depending on the assessment you choose our team of experts:
- Prepares your document
- Selects and uses appropriately validated tools to measure readability, understandability, and actionability
- Provides you with a summary which may include:
- Level of reading difficulty
- Scores from other validated assessment tools
- A list of recommendations to improve your content
What is plain language editing?
Plain language editing refers to the use of evidence-based practices to craft health content that is likely to be understood the first time it is read.
Developers of health materials benefit from providing consumer information that:
- Is easy to access, understand, and act upon
- Encourages engagement in one’s health
- Results in better health outcomes
How does UAMS CHL edit health information to incorporate plain language best practices?
After formally assessing your materials, our team of experts collaboratively edits each project, toward a difficulty level of “easy to read” (6th grade or less). Further improvements result in content that is organized, understandable, and actionable for your readers.
Why choose UAMS CHL for assessment and plain language editing?
Our expert team applies nuanced plain language and numeracy writing techniques to improve a variety of patient- and public-facing health content for clients. Assessments and plain language editing services are available in English and Spanish.
Our editorial team includes experts in:
- Health communication
- Health education
- Patient education
- Spanish language interpretation and translation
- Community health
How can I get my health-related documents assessed and edited?
- Visit PlainPages.org
- Create a free account
- Upload your health-related content (including forms, surveys, consents, presentations, videos, e-learning modules, other patient- and public-facing communication)
We will provide you with a quote, and you may pay online. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Alternative payment arrangements can be made (e.g., purchase orders). Larger projects will require a service contract.
For questions or more information, you may contact us by emailing healthliteracy@uams.edu or calling 501-686-2595.
Examples of our work
- How Climate Change Affects Small Farmers’ Health in Arkansas
- How to Control Your High Blood Pressure
- What You Need to Know About Hemodialysis Vascular Access
- About the Fetal Diagnosis and Management Program
Customer Testimonials
“To advance our health equity aims and best serve American Indians and Alaska Natives, the International Association for Indigenous Aging have worked with the UAMS Center for Health Literacy on multiple projects to improve the plain language qualities of our outreach resources. There is both a science and art to this type of work. While we have skilled writers on staff, the CHL team’s years of experience in this specialized style of writing is unique and has taken our written materials to a new level. We were so impressed with this service and the outcomes it produced, and we have recommended them to multiple partners who also want to promote health equity.”
Jolie Crowder, PhD, RN, MSN, CCM
Senior Project Director
International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2)
“The plain language services offered by the UAMS Center for Health Literacy have greatly improved our patient education materials for chronic kidney disease. Patients that received the materials expressed feelings of hope and empowerment to make their own decisions and wished they had been educated earlier.”
Andrea Easom, APRN
Clinical Instructor and Program Lead
Department of Nephrology