Life is full of decisions. From the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed, we make decisions. About what we wear, what we eat, the next show to binge.
What about the decisions we make about our health? Do we make the decision to exercise regularly? Do we decide to drink water instead of another cup of coffee? Making informed decisions when it comes to our healthcare can be overwhelming, which is why patient engagement is so important. Studies have shown that when patients are more actively involved in their healthcare, they experience better health outcomes.
Patient engagement relies on the interaction between healthcare providers, caregivers, and patients to make good healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient. Ultimately, it’s up to the patient to take this information and make an informed decision about their care. An informed decision involves the patient taking all the information related to their care, weighing the benefits and risks, and making the best choice for themselves. But how do patients cut through the medical jargon to understand what’s being said?
This is where plain language (sometimes called “lay language”) comes in. Lay language is a way to communicate with patients in a way they can understand so they can make informed decisions about what’s best for themselves and their families.
Perhaps one of the most important informed decisions a person can make about their health is whether or not to participate in a clinical trial. With a growing demand for participants to enroll in clinical trials, the need for patient engagement—and more importantly, plain language—comes into play.
Coupled with patient engagement is a growing demand for plain language materials that help readers understand the importance of making informed healthcare decisions. CISCRP is a clinical research education company dedicated to producing high quality plain language patient engagement materials aimed at helping participants make informed decisions on their health.
Offering a wide variety of services, from trial results summaries to a range of educational brochures, CISCRP leads the charge in effective, easy-to-understand patient engagement materials. While many sponsors understand and believe in the importance of patient engagement—more specifically, providing trial results. A 2019 perceptions and insight study found that 61% of participants did not receive any reports on the results of their trial. Partnering with sponsors, and under guidance from the EU CTR, CISCRP has been able to provide thousands of plain language summaries of trial results for over 15 years, giving back to participants the results of their trial in language they can understand. These summaries are a critical aspect of helping patients take an active role in their healthcare. By helping them understand the trial they participated in and its outcome, participants are empowered to make better decisions going forward.
CISCRP is a committed leader of empowering participants to make informed decisions about their health. Learn more about CISCRP’s mission and services here.
Written by: Jacqueline Ruzicka
References:
“Health Policy Brief: Patient Engagement,” Health Affairs, February 14, 2013.
“Why Patient Engagement Is Important In Healthcare,” Sequence Health, April 7, 2020.
The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation. ciscrp.org
“CISCRP’S 2019 Perceptions and Insights Study.” CISCRP, 30 Sept. 2019, www.ciscrp.org/ciscrps-2019-perceptions-and-insights-study/. Accessed 5 Apr. 2023.
