lazy-blocks domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /data/www/vccp-dev/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114polylang domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /data/www/vccp-dev/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114Inclusive language in health communications<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cSticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.\u201d Anyone who has stayed awake at night unable to get a certain phrase out of their head knows this is one of the biggest lies ever to be made into a (kind of) rhyme. Because the words we choose have power. Language is a tool that can educate and empower \u2013 or isolate and belittle, even if unknowingly.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s especially important to help people feel confident and informed when it comes to their health, making sure your content doesn\u2019t stigmatise or overlook anyone and doesn\u2019t create any negative feelings or confusion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At VCCP Health<\/a>, <\/span>we\u2019ve spent a lot of time recently considering inequalities in healthcare and how we can help to change this, including the responsibility we have to produce content that is representative, relevant and accessible to everyone who needs it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>When talking to a health audience, NHS guidelines can help you sense check your words<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>The NHS has published guidelines for creating inclusive content<\/a>. <\/span>The website provides guidance on language to use when talking about age, disabilities, conditions, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sex, gender, sexuality and skin symptoms. Specific examples and guidance can be found on the NHS website<\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>however there are a few overarching themes against which to sense check your content:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Are you being specific?<\/b><\/p>\n As a rule, the more specific you can be the better. For example, instead of labelling patients \u2018middle-aged\u2019 say \u2018patients in their 40s\u2019. And instead of using \u2018BAME\u2019 as a catchall, <\/span>specify the ethnicities you are referring to or use the term ‘ethnic minorities’.<\/span><\/p>\n Are you being positive and avoiding labels?<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Another guiding rule is to be positive, especially when talking about disability and illness. Don\u2019t frame patients as victims or sufferers, and avoid labelling anyone as their illness or disability. Instead, talk about patients as people living with their condition. It is worth considering if you need the word \u2018patient\u2019 or if you can instead talk about \u2018people\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \r\n \r\n \t\t\t <\/div>\r\n \r\n \u00a0<\/span>Are you being inclusive of everyone\u2019s experience?<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b>Many health communications have been guilty of focusing too much on one specific group and excluding others. For example, the symptoms of heart attack are well known in men, but may present differently in women. And in the past, the NHS website mostly described skin symptoms as they appear on white skin, though they are now updating content to reflect a variety of skin tones. Beyond skin colour, there are other considerations for describing symptoms in a way that everyone will experience. For someone with sight loss for example, non-visual description of symptoms (such as the texture of a rash) can be invaluable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Are you being accessible for all reading abilities?<\/b><\/p>\n