HLIT_05LeadingHealth Literacy and Education
Embed Diverse Representation in Patient Education Resources
Summary
Ensure that educational materials and websites reflect the diversity of the community, using inclusive visuals, names, and real-life case studies from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Supporting information
Patient education materials that only represent majority populations alienate marginalised communities and may not address their specific needs. Diverse, representative resources improve engagement and health literacy across all communities.
Approaches to implementation:
- Audit existing materials for representation gaps
- Co-create materials with diverse community members
- Use images reflecting age, ethnicity, disability, and body diversity
- Include culturally relevant examples and scenarios
- Test materials with intended audiences
- Source materials from community-led organisations
Key benefits: Improves health literacy and engagement by ensuring all patients see themselves reflected in health information, reducing inequalities in health knowledge and self-care.