EFIC Plain Talking
Health literacy: clear communication is key
Why this matters
Health literacy is a person's ability to access, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. The World Health Organisation considers it a global health issue. It is a key asset for all of us when we make decisions about our health, and it is particularly important for people living with pain, helping them understand and actively manage their condition.
Plain Talking is EFIC's health literacy campaign, chosen as the President's Campaign by past President Brona Fullen. It is aimed at both clinicians and people living with pain. Over three years, the Health Literacy Working Group, made up of doctors, physiotherapists, and nurses, has worked to raise awareness of health literacy and to improve communication between people living with pain and the clinicians who care for them, by developing a series of practical materials and resources.
People living with pain have a right to understand their condition, and clinicians should communicate this clearly and comprehensibly by adjusting their language to meet the person's needs. The result is improved knowledge, greater empowerment, and the capacity for the person living with pain to engage meaningfully with their clinician.
Resources
Practical materials for people living with pain, healthcare professionals, and the general public. Filter by who you are, then find each item in your language below.
The Journey booklet
A roadmap for treatment that prepares people living with pain for the experiences they are likely to encounter.
The Journey booklet (PDF)Health Literacy Guide and Factsheet
The Plain Talking Booklet: a health literacy guide for healthcare professionals, people living with pain, and the general public, with an accompanying factsheet.
Health Literacy Guide (PDF)Health Literacy infographic
A visual introduction to interactive health literacy, useful for people living with pain and clinicians alike.
View the infographic
Video guide: for clinicians
A short health literacy video guide for healthcare professionals.
Watch on YouTubeVideo guide: for people living with pain
A short health literacy video guide for people living with pain.
Watch on YouTubeVideo guide: for the general public
A short health literacy video guide for the general public.
Watch on YouTubeFind these resources in your language
Materials are available in 23 languages. Coverage varies by language. Type or choose a language to see what is available.
The campaign in the words of its leads
Interviews with past President Brona Fullen and working group chair Laura Mackey on health literacy and the Plain Talking campaign.
For members and partners
About this campaign
- A working group of medical doctors, physiotherapists, and nurses formed under the leadership of Laura Mackey, chair of the Health Literacy Working Group, to define the campaign's goals and focus.
- The first brainstorming meeting was held in October 2020. The campaign was named Plain Talking, with the aim of improving communication between healthcare professionals and people living with chronic pain.
- Between March and June 2021, the working group ran a far-reaching survey, translated into thirteen languages, to understand the challenges and needs of people living with chronic pain.
- In April 2021, the working group held an online workshop with people living with chronic pain to complement the survey.
- Following the survey and workshop, the working group developed written materials, an infographic, a factsheet, and three health literacy guides, complemented by three health literacy video guides. All were launched at the 2022 EFIC Congress in Dublin, where Plain Talking was a prominent theme.
- In April 2022, the working group held a workshop at the Dublin Congress titled "Interactive and Communicative Health Literacy Strategies in Chronic Pain Management".
- University College Dublin MSc Physiotherapy students used the survey and workshop results for their dissertation and presented a research poster at EFIC 2022.
- In 2023, the working group, with two acute pain experts, a general practitioner, and a patient representative from Pain Alliance Europe, developed The Journey, a roadmap booklet for treatment.
- In 2024, the working group prepared a short survey, available in several European languages, to understand what resources healthcare professionals need to support their patients' health literacy. The results will inform the next phase of the campaign.
- Prof. Brona Fullen
- Dr Laura Mackey
- Prof. Nadja Nestler
- Prof. Harriet Wittink
- Dr Magdalena Kocot-Kepska
- Assoc. Prof. Petra Mandysova
- Dr Sandra Jorna-Lakke
- Assoc. Prof. Lirios Duenas
In 2020, the Health Literacy Working Group developed a survey to better understand the needs and challenges of people living with chronic pain. Translated into several languages, it formed the basis of the campaign and made clear that more written and visual resources were needed for both patients and clinicians.
In 2024, the working group turned to healthcare professionals, preparing a survey in several European languages to understand what resources they need to support their patients' health literacy skills. The results will shape the next phase of Plain Talking.
Get involved
To take part in the campaign or to find out more, get in touch with the campaign team.
Contact the campaign team