Step 1:   Who is your reader?

A.  Common characteristics of individuals with low-literacy skills include:

• More likely to interpret messages literally

• Unable to evaluate multiple meanings and make inferences

• Reader cannot apply the information after review of material

• Unable to grasp the meaning of multiple words contained in a sentence

B.  When considering your audience, remember to include important demographics such as:

• Age

• Gender

• Marital status

• Educational level

• Occupation

• Income

• Religion

•  Race

• Ethnicity

• Culture

•  Language

• Geographic location

•  Lifestyle

• Health-related attitudes and behaviors

C.  Further research of your audience can reveal rumors, myths, or misconceptions they may have about your information
Methods for further research include:

• Community observation

• Informal conversation

• Interviews

• Focus groups

AMC Cancer Research Center. (1994). Beyond the Brochure: Alternative Approaches to Effective Health Communication. Denver, USA.

Doak, C., Doak, L., & Root, J. (1996). Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J.B. Lipincott.

National Cancer Institute. (1994). Clear & Simple Developing Effective Print Materials for Low-literature Readers. , USA: NIH Publication.