VP110 Building Capacity In Health Technology Assessment Through Plain Language

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) and policy papers are generally written in academic style using industry jargon — pharmaceutical, medical, or scientific terminology — with a generous use of abbreviations. Transforming technical or biomedical data into easily understandable text is a necessity and a challenge for all of us if our goal is to facilitate HTA collaboration beyond borders and integrate HTA into healthcare practice. Many countries have legislated for plain language (PL), and organizations globally are beginning to recognize how it helps in the uptake of information, whether geared to healthcare professionals and all those interested in HTA, or the lay public.

METHODS:

A preliminary, informal online search for legislative and supporting guidance on PL was conducted, and a query sent out to forty-eight International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) members.

RESULTS:

• • The United States Plain Writing Act of 2010 has legislated that federal agencies use “clear Government communication that the public can understand and use” (1). Of the twenty-one respondents from INAHTA Listserv, seven use plain language in either their knowledge transfer tools (such as executive and research summaries, booklets and fact sheets, and patient or lay material).

• • The Government of Canada promotes plain language in all of its communications (2).

• • McMaster University's 2014 Health Forum on strengthening public and patient engagement in HTA in Ontario supported “clarity and consistency in the use of public- and patient-engagement terminology” in HTAs.

• • A growing number of international health-related and HTA organizations promote PL in their reports and HTAs to help with their health literacy.

• • Many pharmaceutical companies encourage PL communication in their writing (3).

• • Of the eighteen INAHTA responses received, eight reported that they use PL in their report summaries, knowledge transfer materials, and/or patient education tools.

CONCLUSIONS:

Adopting the practice of clear, straightforward writing and editing in all biomedical communication — including HTAs and journal articles — encourages interaction and engagement among patient, public, and healthcare stakeholders invested in HTAs, and their desire to have measured decision making based on comprehensive, informed, and easily understandable information. However, it remains to be seen if PL will be embraced by organizations worldwide. This preliminary, informal inquiry as to its use suggests that the adoption of PL by governments, HTA organizations, and the scientific community worldwide has not yet been fully embraced.