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Table 3 Written and online strategies for healthcare providers (alphabetic order reference)

From: Towards appropriate information provision for and decision-making with patients with limited health literacy in hospital-based palliative care in Western countries: a scoping review into available communication strategies and tools for healthcare providers

Strategy

References

Provide clear, brief, jargon-free information (lay terminology) in a conversation style (active voice), supported by graphs, illustrations or visuals

[19, 44, 46]

Use large font size and ample white space

[19, 44, 46]

Develop and test materials with the help of members of the target population (i.e. patients with limited health literacy)

[19, 44, 47]

Use short sentences and paragraphs

[19, 44]

Use audio and video recordings as presentation materials, especially with complex issues as prognosis and treatment preferences

[19]

Materials should be linguistically and culturally sensitive

[19]

Tailor communication to patients’ health literacy level (e.g. terminology)

[47]

Healthcare providers should visit relevant patient forums to gain insight into patients’ needs

[47]

Inform palliative care patients about condition-related forums that may support their information and relational need

[47]

Engage in email communication with palliative care patients who express a wish for this, while bearing in mind the potential pitfalls associated with this medium

[47]

Use a ‘communication book’ to record what is happening (filled in by all healthcare providerss, patient and their significant others)

[45]

With respect to e-health literacy: use a checklist for consideration in the web environment

[44]