How can a PA contribute to reducing health literacy barriers in patient education?

• A. Use medical jargon to be precise.
• B. Use plain language, teach-back, visual aids, and verify understanding.
• C. Rely only on patient questions.
• D. Assume patients understand complex explanations.

Answer: (B)

Clear, patient-centered communication with strategies to ensure understanding is essential to reduce health literacy barriers in patient education. Using plain language replaces medical jargon with everyday terms, making explanations more accessible and less intimidating for patients. Teach-back, where the patient repeats the information in their own words, helps uncover misunderstandings that might not be evident otherwise and gives the clinician a chance to correct them on the spot. Visual aids such as diagrams, pictures, and step-by-step illustrations reinforce understanding and aid memory, especially for individuals with limited literacy or language barriers. Verifying that the patient truly understands the plan, risks, benefits, and instructions before concluding the encounter ensures that information has been retained and can be acted on.

Jargon tends to confuse rather than clarify, and relying only on patient questions is passive and may miss gaps in understanding. Assuming patients understand complex explanations similarly overestimates comprehension and can lead to poor adherence.