Universal precautions for health communication

Health care professionals should practice “universal precautions” when communicating with others.¹⁴

• This means communicating clearly and in plain language with all patients.
• This is better than trying to identify and communicate differently with patients who have low health literacy.
• Since only 12% of Americans have proficient health literacy skills, universal precautions are a safe bet.

At first, it can be challenging to practice universal precautions.

• Health care information is scientific.
• Health care professionals have many years of formal education.
• They have learned to think about and talk about health and disease in a certain way.
• Changing this can take effort and practice!

Some health care professionals are reluctant to use plain language when communicating with patients. They may worry that

• They are "dumbing down" the information.
• Patients will feel insulted by their "plain talk."
• They won’t appear knowledgeable about the subject.

These concerns are not warranted.

• Patients prefer simple, straightforward communication.
• Clear health communication helps patients of all levels of education and health literacy learn more about their health.

• ^{Nurs Outlook. 2011;59(2):85-94.}