Better health literacy can help save lives - top tips for improving quality of health information for men
To mark Movember and prostate cancer awareness month, the Irish Cancer Society has given its top tips to help organisations effectively communicate health information to men.
Around four in every ten men have low health literacy and this low literacy makes it hard for men to find, understand and use health information. The overall impact of low literacy in men is poorer health outcomes and a lower cancer survival rate.
The Society has created a tool, following the results of a research study conducted by the Society in partnership with UCC and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). The tool recommends that when developing health information, organisations should:
- Use easy to read language, avoiding medical jargon and technical language
- Incorporate humour! Men are more engaged when humour is used to discuss more serious health-related subjects
- Have positive messages rather than warnings and judgemental content
- Use infographics and images where possible, rather than text
- Keep it short and sharp with bullet points rather than blocks of text
- Encourage face to face interaction, like talking to a nurse or GP
- Put the information where men will see it, in sports pages, men’s groups, pubs or GP surgeries
- Use different formats such as posters, brochures, YouTube, Facebook etc.
- Make sure the information and service is male-focused, separate it from women’s information.
Speaking on the matter, Kevin O’Hagan, Cancer Prevention Manager with the Irish Cancer Society said, “Health literacy is the ability to find, use and understand health information and it is absolutely vital to good health. We know that four in every ten men have low health literacy levels and that has very serious implications for their health.
Being able to get, understand and use health information can have huge implications on men’s health, such as knowing about certain health risks, the importance of making healthy choices, disease prevention, safety in the workplace, going for screening, getting early treatment or taking medicine correctly.”
“As well as that, when it comes to cancer specifically, having access to information about the signs and symptoms, understanding the need to get checked as early as possible or knowing about the importance of cancer screening can have a direct impact on cancer survival rates. If there are any barriers to this, it can lead to higher mortality rates.”
Helen Ryan, Policy Officer with NALA, added, “It’s important that we better understand why men are not accessing health information and what changes we can make to ensure that more men do engage. That’s why these tips are so important and I would encourage all health organisations to incorporate them into their own communications. If everyone in the sector makes a few simple changes, we could see a real difference in how men access and benefit from healthcare information.’’
The Irish Cancer Society is promoting the top tips to mark Movember, as part of prostate cancer awareness month. Approximately 3,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year meaning one in seven men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.
Movember is the only global charity focused on men’s health. In Ireland, Movember is the primary contributor to the Irish Cancer Society’s prostate cancer initiatives. Funds raised help provide information, support and care to those affected by prostate cancer, as well as funding vital cancer research. Getting involved is easy. Simply sign up at Movember.com and fundraise by:
- Growing a Moustache
- Taking the Move Challenge and get active
- Hosting an event
- Making a donation
The Manual For Men is available from www.cancer.ie/menshealth, Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centres, Boots Stores or call the Cancer Nurseline on Freephone 1800 200 700 to receive a free copy.
To download the infograph, click here.
