Tools & Resources for MUHC Staff
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Legend: ★ Document developed by the MUHC
On This Page
1 — Patient Education at the MUHC
3 — Overview of Key Guides & Toolkits
4 — Developing PEMs: Language & Structure
5 — Developing PEMs: Visual Design & Layout
6 — Developing Online Resources
8 — Presenting to Lay Audiences
1 — Patient Education at the MUHC
For guidance and support in the development of patient education materials (PEMs) at the MUHC, please contact the Patient Education Committee (PEC).
The PEC aims to support the development and revision of PEMS at the MUHC, in accordance with institutional priorities and the needs of patients and families of the MUHC. It also produces and maintains standards and supporting documentation related to health literacy and the development of PEMs, validates the quality of materials produced, and promotes their dissemination throughout the institution.
Executive of the Patient Education Committee (PEC)
Andréa Laizner, Co-chair: andrea.laizner@muhc.mcgill.ca
Paule Kelly-Rhéaume, Member: paule.kelly-rheaume@muhc.mcgill.ca
2 — Health Literacy 101
Health Literacy Basics | Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
An Introduction to Health Literacy | Network of the National Library of Medicine
What Is Health Literacy? | Chapitre 2 de Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion, National Academies Press
A Vision for a Health Literate Canada: Report of the Expert Panel on Health Literacy | Canadian Public Health Association
Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit | Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality
Quels sont les facteurs influençant le degré de littératie en santé ? | INSPQ
3 — Overview of Key Guides & Toolkits
★ MUHC Standards for Developing Effective Written Patient Learning Materials
Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective | Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS.gov)
Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills | Doak, Doak, & Root
Messages for All Voices: Integrating Cultural Competence and Health Literacy in Health Materials, Forms, and Signage | Government of Nova Scotia (see also the Quick Reference Guide Version)
Writing Health Information for Patients and Families | Hamilton Health Sciences
Plain Language Guidelines | Plain Language Action and Information Network (see menu on left of page)
Comment concevoir et adapter du matériel écrit de communication ? | INSPQ
Liste de contrôle pour faciliter la compréhension de matériel écrit | INSPQ
Pour qu’on se comprenne : Guide de littératie en santé | Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal
Communiquer pour tous : Guide pour une information accessible | Santé publique France
4 — Developing PEMs: Language & Structure
★ MUHC Standards for Developing Effective Written Patient Learning Materials (see Standard 2, pp. 2-5)
Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective – Part 4: Guidelines for Writing | CMS.gov
Making Data Talk: A Workbook | National Cancer Institute
Writing Health Information for Patients and Families | Hamilton Health Sciences (see pp. 31-41)
Plain Language: Getting Started or Brushing Up | National Institutes of Health
A Plain-Language Checklist for Reviewing Your Document | National Institutes of Health
Comment rédiger un support d’information pour la santé lisible et compréhensible ? | Cultures&Santé
Pour qu’on se comprenne : Guide de littératie en santé | Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal (see Sections 4 & 5)
Communiquer pour tous : Guide pour une information accessible | Santé publique France (see pp. 19-44)
Plain Language Thesaurus for Health Communications (link will launch a document download) | Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
Plain Language Medical Dictionary | University of Michigan
CLAD Thesaurus | Clear Language and Design
Everyday Words for Public Health Communication | Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
Clear Communication: Use Clear Words and Expressions | Government of Canada
Plain Language Lexicon | Plain Language Commission
Lexique des mots alternatifs | Réseau québécois des établissements promoteurs de la santé
Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective – Part 7: Using Readability Formulas | CMS.gov
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Readability Formula
Writing Health Information for Patients and Families – Gunning Fox Formula | Hamilton Health Sciences (see p. 105)
Scolarius (French text only)
5 — Developing PEMs: Visual Design & Layout
★ MUHC Standards for Developing Effective Written Patient Learning Materials (see Standard 3, pp. 6-7)
Plain Language: Formatting and Visual Clarity | National Institutes of Health
Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective – Part 5: Guidelines for Design | CMS.gov
Writing Health Information for Patients and Families | Hamilton Health Sciences (see pp. 42-53)
Pour qu’on se comprenne : Guide de littératie en santé | Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal (see Sections 4 & 5)
Communiquer pour tous : Guide pour une information accessible | Santé publique France (see pp. 45-58)
6 — Developing Online Resources
Health Literacy Online | Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Health Literacy Online Strategies Checklist | Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Tips for Getting Started with Web Accessibility | W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
Writing Health Information for Patients and Families | Hamilton Health Sciences (see pp. 54-57)
Accessibility Principles | W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
Communiquer pour tous : Guide pour une information accessible | Santé publique France (see pp. 59-86)
7 — Piloting & Assessing PEMs
★ MUHC Standards for Developing Effective Written Patient Learning Materials (see Standard 4, p. 8)
Can They Understand? Testing Patient Education Materials with Intended Readers | Health Literacy Consulting
Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective – Part 6: Feedback Sessions | CMS.gov
Test Your Site with Users with Limited Literacy Skills | Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and User’s Guide | Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality
Evaluating Web Accessibility | W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
Suitability Assessment of Materials for Evaluation of Health-Related Information for Adults | Doak, Doak, et Root
Comment pré-tester notre matériel écrit ? | INSPQ
Comment tester un support d’information pour la santé avec un groupe ? | Cultures&Santé
★ MUHC Standards for Developing Effective Written Patient Learning Materials (see pp. 18-19)
Writing Health Information for Patients and Families | Hamilton Health Sciences (see pp. 108-109)
Pour qu’on se comprenne : Guide de littératie en santé | Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal (see pp. 54-58)
8 — Presenting to Lay Audiences
Explaining Your Science: Tips for Clear Communication | National Institute on Aging
Communicating Your Science to the Non-Expert (link will launch a document download) | Society for Neuroscience
Rendre compte sa recherche de façon captivante ! | Association québécoise de pédagogie collégiale
9 — Some Further Reading
For more resources on health literacy and developing patient education materials, see the links below.
Please also feel free to contact the MUHC libraries to request literature searches or books and articles elated to health literacy.
Littératie en santé : Coin thématique | Cultures&Santé
Ten Attributes of Health Literate Health Care Organizations | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine
International Handbook of Health Literacy | Policy Press
Roundtable on Health Literacy | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine (see the workshop summaries under “Our Work”)
Digital Accessibility Foundations Free Online Course | W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
Health Literacy Tool Shed | CommunicateHealth Inc., Boston University, et RTI International (health literacy measures)
“What’s New” Health Literacy E-newsletter | Health Literacy Consulting
Last update: August 13, 2021