Easy to Write? Creating Easy-to-Read Patient Education Materials

Abstract

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society develops and distributes both detailed and easy-to-read booklets intended to help patients and caregivers communicate with healthcare providers about their treatment and support needs. The easy-to-read booklets initially were developed for newly diagnosed patients; however, the society has learned that all patients with cancer are likely to benefit from the information at some point in their journeys. To date, the society has developed easy-to-read booklets about acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, lymphomas, myeloma, and coping with blood cancer. All booklets are free to patients, healthcare providers, and the general public, and most titles are available in Spanish-language versions. They can be ordered through the society's Information Resource Center (800-955-4572, infocenter@lls.org, or www.lls.org) or its 68 chapters. This article focuses on the development of the booklet Myeloma: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers and includes a handout based on its content.