After 17 years as a registered nurse, I’ve watched a familiar scene play out hundreds of times. A patient sits across from their provider, nodding along, saying, “yes, I understand.” Then they go home. They skip the medication because the instructions were confusing. They come back to the ED because they misread the discharge paperwork. They stop following their care plan because no one explained it in a way that actually made sense to them.
The problem usually isn’t the patient. It’s the materials.
Most patient education materials are written for compliance, not comprehension. They’re drafted in a hurry, reviewed by clinicians who already know the information, and handed to patients who are often anxious, overwhelmed, or dealing with health literacy challenges that no one stopped to assess.
The good news: small independent practices can actually do this better than large health systems, because you have the flexibility to create materials that truly reflect your patient population. Here are ten ways to start.
Table of Contents
1. Use Plain Language
Plain language isn’t dumbing things down — it’s respecting your patients’ time and cognitive load. When someone is newly diagnosed, scared, or managing multiple conditions, the last thing they need is to decode medical terminology while they’re already overwhelmed.
Swap “hypertension” for “high blood pressure.” Replace “myocardial infarction” with “heart attack.” Use “kidneys” instead of “renal.” The rule of thumb I use: write for the reading level of a busy, stressed adult who’s only half-focused. That’s your real audience most of the time.
Short sentences help too. Not every sentence needs to be short — but paragraphs loaded with clinical qualifications and subordinate clauses are a readability dead end. Aim for clear and direct over thorough and technical.
2. Incorporate Visual Aids
A labeled diagram can do what three paragraphs can’t. This is especially true for procedural information, anatomy, or anything that involves sequence.
Think about what you’re actually asking patients to understand. If it’s where an injection goes, show them. If it’s how to use a peak flow meter, a simple step-by-step illustrated guide will outperform a bulleted list every time. You don’t need professional illustrations — clear, simple visuals with good labels are enough.
One note: make sure your visuals reflect the diversity of your actual patient population. Generic clipart that doesn’t represent who’s walking through your door can create subtle distance instead of connection. enhance comprehension and make the material more engaging and less intimidating for patients.
3. Break Down Information into Manageable Chunks
Cognitive load is real, and it’s higher than usual in a clinical context. Anxiety, pain, unfamiliar environments, and worry all affect how much information someone can actually absorb in a single visit.
Instead of one dense document covering everything about a new diagnosis, break it into sections: what it means, what to do this week, what symptoms to watch for, when to call. Each piece should answer one question clearly before moving to the next.
Here are some tips for breaking down information:
- Use Short Paragraphs: Aim for 2-4 sentences per paragraph to keep the content focused and easy to read.
- Include Subheadings: Use subheadings to clearly define different sections and guide the reader through the material.
- Focus on One Idea at a Time: Ensure each section or paragraph centers on a single idea to avoid overwhelming the reader.
This approach enhances readability and helps patients retain information more effectively.
4. Use Clear Headings and Subheadings
Clear headings and subheadings guide readers through the material and help them find the information they need quickly. Well-organized content makes it easier for patients to navigate and understand the materials.
For example, if you’re providing information about a treatment plan, use headings like “Overview,” “Procedure,” and “Aftercare.” Each heading should be descriptive and specific to give patients a clear idea of what each section covers.
Here are some tips for using headings and subheadings effectively:
- Be Descriptive: Use headings that accurately describe the content of the section.
- Keep It Simple: Avoid complex or ambiguous headings.
- Use a Logical Order: Arrange headings in a logical sequence that follows the patient’s journey or the flow of information.
Using clear headings and subheadings improves readability and makes the material more user-friendly, helping patients find and understand the information they need quickly and easily.
5. Employ Bullet Points and Lists
Bullet points and lists can significantly improve readability by presenting key points clearly and concisely. They break down information into easily digestible pieces, making it easier for patients to scan and absorb the content.
For example, instead of writing a paragraph about the benefits of exercise, you could list the benefits like this:
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Enhances mood and energy levels
- Aids in weight management
Here are some tips for using bullet points and lists effectively:
- Keep Items Short: Aim for brief, to-the-point statements.
- Use Parallel Structure: Ensure each bullet point follows the same grammatical structure for consistency and clarity.
- Limit the Number of Items: Avoid overwhelming the reader with too many points. Aim for 3-7 items per list.
Employing bullet points and lists helps highlight important information and makes it easier for patients to grasp and remember key points.
6. Choose Readable Fonts and Sizes
Typography in patient materials is a patient safety issue, not just a design preference. Small fonts, low contrast, and decorative typefaces are real barriers — especially for older patients, patients with low vision, and anyone reading in less-than-ideal lighting.
Here are some tips for selecting readable fonts and sizes:
- Font Type: Choose simple, clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Verdana. Avoid decorative or overly stylized fonts, as they can be hard to read.
- Font Size: Use a font size that is large enough for easy reading, typically 12-14 points for body text. Larger fonts may be necessary for headings and important information.
- Contrast: Ensure there is a high contrast between the text and the background. Black text on a white background is usually the easiest to read.
- Line Spacing: Use adequate line spacing (1.5 to 2.0) to prevent the text from appearing cramped and to enhance readability.
By choosing readable fonts and sizes, you can help patients focus on the content without struggling to read the text, thereby improving their overall understanding and engagement with the material.
7. Ensure Content is Culturally Sensitive
Cultural humility in patient materials goes deeper than swapping out stock photos. It means recognizing that your patients bring different health beliefs, dietary traditions, family structures, and relationships with the medical system to every interaction.
When your examples only reflect one cultural context, patients from other backgrounds get a quiet message that these materials weren’t made for them. That erodes trust — and trust is the foundation of any therapeutic relationship.
Here are some tips for making content culturally sensitive:
- Use Inclusive Language: Avoid language that may be offensive or exclusive to certain cultural groups. Use terms that are universally respectful and inclusive.
- Reflect Diversity: Include examples, scenarios, and images that represent diverse cultural backgrounds. This helps patients see themselves in the materials and feel more connected.
- Be Aware of Cultural Practices: Understand that different cultures may have varying beliefs and practices related to health. Acknowledge and respect these differences in your content.
For example, when discussing diet, include a variety of foods that reflect different cultural cuisines. Instead of only mentioning “whole wheat bread,” consider also including options like “corn tortillas,” “bok choy,” “plantains,” “dal,” and “feta cheese.” This variety caters to a wider audience and respects their dietary traditions and preferences.
When in doubt, ask your patients directly what would have been helpful. They’ll tell you.
8. Include Actionable Steps
Providing patients with clear, actionable steps empowers them to take control of their health. Instead of giving vague advice, offer specific actions that patients can follow.
For example, rather than saying “eat healthy,” you could provide actionable steps like:
- Include at least five servings of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
- Choose whole grains over refined grains.
- Limit sugary beverages and opt for water or herbal teas.
Here are some tips for creating actionable steps:
- Be Specific: Clearly outline what the patient needs to do.
- Make It Achievable: Ensure the steps are realistic and attainable for your patient population.
- Prioritize Clarity: Use simple language and short sentences to describe each step.
Actionable steps not only make the advice more practical but also help patients feel more confident in their ability to manage their health. By providing clear guidance, you can facilitate better health outcomes and empower patients to take proactive steps in their care.
9. Make Digital Materials Mobile-Friendly
With many patients accessing information on their phones, optimizing digital materials for mobile devices is essential. Mobile-friendly design improves accessibility and ensures patients can easily read and interact with the content on smaller screens.
Here are some tips for making digital materials mobile-friendly:
- Responsive Design: Use responsive design techniques to ensure the content automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. This includes resizing images and text for readability on mobile devices.
- Simple Layout: Opt for a clean, simple layout that’s easy to navigate on a mobile screen. Avoid clutter and excessive scrolling.
- Readable Fonts: Use large, readable fonts that don’t require zooming in. Typically, 16 pixels is a good starting point for mobile text.
- Clickable Elements: Ensure buttons and links are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger. This reduces frustration and improves the user experience.
- Fast Load Times: Optimize images and other elements to ensure quick loading times. Slow pages can deter users from accessing your materials.
By making digital materials mobile-friendly, you ensure that patients can access important health information anytime, anywhere, enhancing their ability to stay informed and engaged with their care.
10. Seek Feedback and Make Improvements
Getting feedback from patients is vital for continuous improvement. Patient insights can help you identify areas that need enhancement and ensure that your materials are truly meeting their needs.
Here are some tips for collecting and using patient feedback:
- Surveys and Questionnaires: Use surveys and questionnaires to gather specific feedback on your materials. Ask questions like, “Was the information easy to understand?” and “How can we improve?”
- Focus Groups: Conduct focus groups with diverse patients to get detailed insights into their experiences with your materials.
- Feedback Forms: Include feedback forms with your materials, encouraging patients to share their thoughts and suggestions.
- Analyze and Act: Review the feedback you receive regularly and look for common themes or issues. Use this information to make informed adjustments and improvements to your materials.
For example, if multiple patients mention that a particular section is confusing, consider rewriting it for clarity. By actively seeking and responding to feedback, you can continuously enhance the quality and accessibility of your patient materials.
Conclusion
Accessible patient materials aren’t a nice-to-have. They’re part of the care you provide. When patients genuinely understand their diagnosis, their treatment plan, and what to do when something changes, they’re more likely to follow through — and less likely to end up back in your office, or your ED, because something got lost in translation.
If you’re running an independent or direct care practice, you probably already know that clear communication is what sets you apart from the larger health systems. Your patients chose you for a reason. Your materials should reflect that same level of personal, thoughtful care.
I’m a registered nurse and healthcare copywriter who works specifically with independent and direct care practices on patient-facing content, website copy, and health communications. If you’d like help making your patient materials clearer, more accessible, and more reflective of your practice’s voice — let’s talk.
