About this resource
Health information is only useful if people can understand and act on it. This plan covers preparation, key messages, plain language, visual aids, teach-back, written take-home information and follow-up for each appointment.
Purpose
To make appointments easier to understand and act on.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Allied health and multidisciplinary teams. Also relevant for speech pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers.
Client or participant group: Allied health practitioners.
Practice setting: Clinical appointments.
Suggested uses
- Appointment planning
- Service improvement
- Student training
- Health literacy audits
Instructions for practitioners
- Limit to two or three key messages.
- Use teach-back.
- Provide plain written information.
- Follow up.
Accessibility considerations
Plan interpreters and communication supports.
Scope and limitations
A planning template.
Research basis
Clear, plain-language information and checking understanding (teach-back) improve understanding, safety and quality of care.
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2014). Health literacy: Taking action to improve safety and quality. ACSQHC. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/health-literacy-taking-action-improve-safety-and-quality
- Australian Government. Style Manual: Plain language and word choice. https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/writing-and-designing-content/clear-language-and-writing-style/plain-language-and-word-choice
- Talevski, J., Wong Shee, A., Rasmussen, B., Kemp, G., & Beauchamp, A. (2020). Teach-back: A systematic review of implementation and impacts. PLOS ONE, 15(4), e0231350. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231350
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
