Plain-language guides
Short explanations with key terms, questions to ask, sources, and review dates.
EDUCATION / PATIENT RESOURCES
Clear information for informed health conversations.
The Institute is developing plain-language educational resources that help patients and caregivers understand health-science topics, prepare questions, and participate more confidently in decisions with qualified professionals.
RESOURCE STATUS
Patient-resource collection in development.
Resources will be added after subject review, plain-language editing, accessibility review, and publication dating. Materials on this page are not a substitute for diagnosis, emergency services, individualized treatment, or advice from a qualified professional.
PURPOSE
Make reliable information easier to use.
Health information is most useful when readers can understand its source, intended audience, limits, and next questions. Future resources may explain research findings, anatomy and function, rehabilitation and prevention concepts, healthy aging, outcomes, care navigation, participation in research, and how to evaluate health claims.
Resources will support—but not direct—individual decisions. They will encourage readers to discuss personal concerns, risks, medications, symptoms, and treatment options with an appropriately qualified professional.
RESOURCE FORMATS
Designed for different ways of learning.
Visit-preparation tools
Checklists that help people organize priorities, questions, records, and follow-up information.
Research participation guides
Educational material about informed consent, study status, privacy, voluntary participation, and whom to contact.
Caregiver resources
Practical information for supporting communication, continuity, access, and caregiver well-being.
RESOURCE STANDARDS
What readers should be able to verify.
- Intended audience, purpose, author or reviewer, and publication date
- Evidence sources and important areas of uncertainty
- Plain-language definitions and accessible structure
- Conflict-of-interest and sponsorship disclosure
- Safety language and clear limits on educational use
- Contact method for accessibility requests, questions, or corrections
PRIVACY & SAFETY
Do not send personal medical information through general forms.
The Institute’s public contact channels are not designed for urgent care, diagnosis, treatment requests, or the collection of protected health information. Call local emergency services for an emergency and contact an appropriate care provider for individual concerns.
Where translations or alternative formats are provided, the resource will identify the version and review date. Feedback may be used to improve clarity, but the Institute will not publish personal stories or identifiable information without appropriate permission.
RESOURCE INFORMATION
Help make information more understandable.
Patients, caregivers, health-literacy specialists, qualified reviewers, and community organizations may suggest resource needs or accessibility improvements.