SPPH 522 Blog Post

Drop the Dialect: 3 Reasons to Teach Plain Language in Epi Courses

Hey there, fellow Master of Public Health students!

I’d like to take us back to our first-year Epi classes, SPPH 502 and 503, to talk about something we didn’t talk about back then. I promise to make it as painless as possible.

But hold on—before we embark on this journey, let’s give credit where it’s due. 

Despite the long study hours and the grind of weekly quizzes, these courses equipped us with a foundation in epidemiological science. They cover everything from the hierarchy of evidence to the nuances of study design.

Ah, yes, the hierarchy of evidence—an essential concept. And who can forget dissecting those demographic curves, hunting for those elusive inflection points? 

These terms may roll off our tongues effortlessly now.

But let’s be honest, they were once as mysterious (and felt as soul-crushing) as black holes in space.

Let’s shift our focus to what often gets left out of the curriculum: the art and science of communicating in plain language. Yes, you heard that right—plain language.

In a world inundated with jargon and buzzwords (see what I did there?), the power of simplicity often gets overlooked.

Plain Language Supports Public Health Goals

There may be practical reasons for using jargon when communicating amongst fellow professionals (ie. efficiency). But jargon can also be used as a way to exclude anyone outside of our disciplinary circles. It creates insiders and outsiders – those who ‘get it’ and those who don’t. When jargon is used to communicate with those who are outside of the discipline, a power imbalance is established and reinforced.

These power imbalances can cause real harm to people who are on the receiving end of science communication, particularly when the message directly impacts their health. If people feel confused, belittled, or powerless when receiving health-related messages, they may experience stress or consent to something without being truly informed.

For these reasons, teaching, learning, and using jargon when communicating about science and health can be dangerous. Thankfully, we have other options – plain language!

Plain language uses familiar words, in focused sentences, with organized thoughts and clear A to B to C structure.

Importantly, the goal of plain language is writing for the reader.

This is necessary to appreciate, because often times academic writing feels ego-centric; I am writing to tell you about what I know using words I understand and am comfortable with.

Whether an individual or population-level, public health’s goal is supporting the health of people and populations we serve. As such, our health messaging is not about us because it is not for us alone.

Plain language isn’t just a linguistic choice. It is a strategic move to achieve our goal of serving people and populations.

Plain Language and Epi

So, why should we, as future public health professionals, embrace plain language when discussing epidemiology? Allow me to share three compelling reasons:

1. Redistributing Power and Building Trust. As Iva Cheung reminds us, plain language isn’t just about simplifying complex concepts—it’s about building trust and fostering meaningful connections. 

We empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health, by communicating health-related information in a clear, understandable manner. This person-centred approach upholds the principles of informed consent and respects patients’ autonomy.

2. Plain Language at a Population Level. Let’s zoom out for a moment and consider the broader impact of plain language communication. Beyond individual interactions, plain language has the power to foster trust and empower entire communities. 

By breaking down barriers to understanding, we can ensure that vital health information reaches everyone, ‘reduces the cognitive load’ for populations, and supports mass mobilization around common health goals.

Plain language is one (small) step in building trust, specifically with communities who speak different languages or have experienced harms and rightly distrust health communications.

3. Plain Language in Practice: The COVID-19 Pandemic. If there’s ever been a real-world example of the importance of plain language communication in epidemiology, it’s the COVID-19 pandemic. 

From public health advisories to vaccine information, clear and concise communication has been crucial in navigating this global crisis. Plain language helped disseminate accurate information, debunked myths, and alleviated fears.

Nova Scotian Premier, Stephen McNeil gained familiarity when, in 2020, he urged Nova Scotia residents to “stay the blazes home” to reduce their risk of COVID-19. His use of memorable, colloquial language gained traction with the public.

I won’t try to convince you that the pandemic went off without a hitch. There is a lot to learn and improve on in science communication and pandemic response. But I hope this case study is a clear example of how plain language transcends the patient-provider interaction. COVID-19 showed us it is critical at a population level, perhaps even more so. 

In conclusion, let’s not overlook the transformative potential of plain language communication within our Epi curriculum. By integrating plain language principles into our scientific discourse, we can bridge the gap between technical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that our insights resonate with a wider audience. So, here’s to mastering the art of clear communication—because when science speaks plainly, everyone listens.