Imagine you’ve just walked out of the doctor’s office. You couldn’t understand your doctor’s explanation during the appointment. Words like “comorbidities” and “prognosis” swirled around you—most of them going way over your head.

You’re confused about what was said, but you’re not too worried. After all, you’re tightly gripping a leaflet with all the information about your condition.

But now, you’re left with two possible outcomes.

1. You open the leaflet, and the information is clear, simple, and easy to follow. The message makes sense, and you know exactly how to manage your condition. You feel empowered, confident, and ready to take the next steps for your health. Hoorah!

2. The leaflet is packed with complex medical jargon, long-winded explanations, and confusing instructions. You’re left more overwhelmed than you were sitting across from your doctor and now even more anxious about your next steps. The message is totally lost—and so are you.

Shockingly, the chance of either scenario happening is almost 50/50. Health Education England found that 4 in 10 adults in the UK do not understand written health information.

And as health writers, it’s our responsibility to bridge the gap.

The Consequences of Poor Health Communication

Poor communication in healthcare is more than frustrating; it can be downright dangerous. If the writing isn’t clear, people can’t follow the advice.

Misunderstandings due to unclear or overly complex information can lead to:

·        Poor adherence to medication

·        Failure to effectively follow treatment plans

·        Neglect of critical health advice

·        Low use of preventative services

This can result in worsening conditions, unnecessary hospitalisations, and even preventable deaths. In fact, groups with lower health literacy—those who struggle to understand and use health information—have lower life expectancies. It’s also impacting our economy, with 5% of national health spending going towards solving health literacy problems.

It is one of our biggest challenges as health writers.

How Good Health Communication Can Improve Outcomes

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Clear, well-crafted health writing can—and does—improve outcomes.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, clear health messaging on social distancing, vaccination, and hygiene was crucial. The NHS launched simple, direct communication campaigns that helped the public understand essential health advice quickly, potentially saving countless lives. The success of these campaigns highlights how powerful well-written health communication can be.

Similarly, studies have shown that patients with clear, easy-to-understand discharge instructions after hospital visits are far less likely to be readmitted. This shows that clear writing isn’t just a courtesy—it can have real, measurable impacts on public health.

As health and medical writers, we are more than just messengers of health information—we are educators. We translate complex medical jargon into language that everyone can understand.

8 Tips for Writing Clear Health Content

So, how do we ensure our health writing is clear, practical, and actionable? Here are eight tips to help make your written health communications clearer:

1. Know Your Audience

Tailor your content to your audience's reading level and knowledge base. Are you writing for patients, the general public, or healthcare professionals? Adjust your language for health or medical writing accordingly.

2. Avoid Medical Jargon

Limit the use of medical terms unless absolutely necessary. For example, instead of “myocardial infarction,” keep it simple and use the phrase “heart attack.” If you must use them, explain them clearly in simple terms.

3. Be Direct

Don’t overcomplicate your sentences. Use active voice and short, clear sentences to make your writing more digestible. You can add some variety to keep the text engaging, but it being understandable is far, far more critical.

4. Organise Information Logically

Another way to improve your health writing is to break up the text with headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. This enhances readability and helps readers (who can soon get bored) find the information they need quickly.

5. Include Actionable Steps

Health writing is often about education or encouraging positive change. Provide clear, easy-to-follow steps that readers can implement to improve their health without overloading them with information.

6. Test for Readability

Use readability tools like the Hemingway App or Flesch-Kincaid to see how easy your writing is to read. Aim for a grade level that most people can understand (generally around Grade 5 to 8).

7. Get Feedback

Before publishing, ask someone from your target audience to read through your content and give feedback. What’s clear to you—a health writer surrounded by medical terminology every day—might not be apparent to them.

8. Revise and Edit

Don’t be afraid to revise your health content multiple times. After research, I spend most of my time in the editing phase. Tighten up the language, cut out the fluff, and make sure your key message comes through loud and clear.

Clear Health Writing Saves Lives—And I’m Here to Help

At the end of the day, clear health communication isn’t just about delivering information—it’s about enabling patients to make informed decisions that can literally change their lives.

Whether it’s a simple instruction for taking medication or a comprehensive guide to managing a chronic illness, the way we write matters.

As a professional health and medical writer, I’m passionate about making complex medical information easy to understand and hard to forget. If you’re looking for help with your health communications—whether it’s patient materials, blog posts, or healthcare marketing—I can help.

Get in touch to learn more about my health writing services and how I can help you create content that cuts the gobbledygook.