Health Literacy

Use these websites to access free health information in different languages:

• MedlinePlus Espanol
  • Documentos de lectura fácil
  • Medicinas, hierbas y suplementos
• MedlinePlus in Multiple Languages
• EthnoMed for health information in different languages and resources for caring for people of different cultures
• Health Information Translations search by language or topic
• SPIRAL: Selected Patient Information in Asian Languages search by language or by topic

Click any of the links to find easy-to-read health information

• Clear Health from NIH search by topic for easy-to-read information
• MedlinePlus Easy-to-Read Health Information search by topic for easy-to-read information
• MyHealthfinder search by topic for easy-to-read information
• DynaMed patient handouts
• Nursing Reference Center Plus patient handouts

Click on any of the resources below to access them

• Talking with your doctor or healthcare provider guidelines and tips
• Ask Me 3 a brochure with tips for talking to your healthcare providers to better understand your health
• Questions are the answer an initiative by AHRQ to improve patient communication 
  • 10 questions you should know a list of 10 questions to ask your healthcare provider and help you better understand your care
  • QuestionBuilder App an app you can download to create and track questions about your health
  • Be more engaged in your healthcare tips to help you engage in your care before, during, and after a visit
• Taking Care of Myself: A guide for when I leave the hospital a fill-in-the-blank guide to help you understand what do after leaving the hospital

Click on any of the resources below to access them

• Clinical Conversations Training Program: a free, virtual program from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) for training clinicians and other clinical staff who interact with patients about health literacy and related concepts.
• Plain Language: Getting started or brushing up a free, virtual training hosted by the National Institutes of Health
• plainlanguage.gov a website with legal and practical guidelines for plain language, training, and resources
• Health Literacy Online: A guide for simplifying the user experience a research-based guide to help you develop intuitive health websites and digital tools that can be easily accessed and understood by all users
• Choosing effective patient education materials a brief guide for improving patient education interactions
• Encouraging questions a tool from the AHRQ Health Literacy Toolkit for providers learning to encourage patient questions
• DynaMed patient handouts
• Nursing Reference Center Plus patient handouts