Plain language communication as a priority competency for medical professionals in a globalized world

TLDR

Globalization increases patient and provider diversity, creating communication challenges especially for those with limited health literacy, yet plain language communication—simple, succinct, accurate information—remains absent from standard health‑care education. The report seeks to demonstrate how incorporating plain language communication as a core competency can mitigate globalization’s impact on patient‑provider communication. The authors synthesize literature on globalization, plain language communication, and medical curricula to argue for its inclusion as a core competency. The synthesis establishes a need for plain language communication as a core competency to better serve a globalized health system.

Abstract

This brief report aims to highlight the impact of globalization – the international movement of goods, people, and ideas – on patient-provider communication in medical training and practice, and how the implementation of plain language communication training as a core competency for care providers can mitigate this impact. Globalization influences both patient and provider population diversity, which presents challenges with regard to patient-provider communication, particularly in cases of limited health literacy. Plain language communication - the delivery of information in a simple, succinct, and accurate manner - can help address these challenges. Training in plain language communication, however, is not a part of standard education for health care providers. Based on a synthesis of relevant literature pertaining to globalization, plain language communication, and medical education curricula, it is hoped that the information presented establishes the need for plain language communication as a core competency in medical education to enable providers to better meet the needs of an increasingly globalized health system.