Patient Health Literacy & Plain Language Assessment

Thank you for taking part in this survey about understanding health information. Your responses are voluntary and confidential — you may stop at any time. There are no right or wrong answers; we are interested in your honest opinions. Your answers will be combined with those of other participants and reported only in aggregate. This survey takes approximately 8 minutes. Please think about your most recent clinic, hospital, or telehealth visit in the last 12 months as you answer.

In the last 12 months, have you had at least one clinic, hospital, or telehealth visit?

• Yes
• No

How confident are you in your ability to fill out medical forms by yourself?

In the last 12 months, did you use a patient portal or app to view your health information?

• Yes
• No

Which of the following do you currently have access to? (Select all that apply)

• Smartphone
• Computer or tablet
• Home internet or Wi-Fi
• Screen reader or text-to-speech software
• None of these

Please rank the following from most to least preferred for receiving important health instructions or results.

1. Printed handout
2. Text or SMS
3. Patient portal or app
4. Email
5. Phone call or voicemail
6. Short video
7. In-person demonstration

Based on your responses in this survey, is there anything else that would make health information easier for you to understand?

What is your age?

• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65–74
• 75 or older
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for participating. Your feedback helps us make health information clearer and easier to use for everyone.

Which language do you prefer for health information?

• English
• Spanish
• Chinese
• Vietnamese
• Arabic
• Other (please specify)

Overall, how easy or difficult was it to understand the written health information you received in the last 12 months?

How clear was the health information displayed on the patient portal or app?

Which of the following would help you when reading health information? (Select all that apply)

• Larger text or print
• Audio versions or text-to-speech
• Captions on videos
• High-contrast colors
• None of these

Which of the following formats help you understand health information best? (Select all that apply)

• Bullet-point lists
• Step-by-step checklists
• Pictures or diagrams
• Simple real-life examples
• Medical term with plain-language definition
• Translated materials in my language
• Large print

We'd like to learn a bit more about your experience. An AI interviewer will ask you a couple of follow-up questions about understanding health information.

How do you describe your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

In the last 12 months, which types of health information were difficult for you to understand? (Select all that apply)

• Appointment reminders
• Consent forms
• Discharge or visit instructions
• Bills and statements
• Lab or test results
• Medication labels or instructions
• Insurance or coverage documents
• None of these were difficult

In the last 12 months, did you have any telehealth (video or phone) visits?

• Yes
• No

Which of the following materials would you most like to have available in your preferred language? (Select all that apply)

• Appointment reminders
• Consent forms
• Visit or discharge instructions
• Bills and statements
• Lab or test results
• Medication labels

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• Less than high school
• High school or GED
• Some college or trade school
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Graduate or professional degree
• Prefer not to say

Please list any medical words, phrases, or sections of documents that were confusing to you in the last 12 months.

During your telehealth visits, how often did you fully understand what to do after the visit ended?

If we could simplify only a few areas of health information, which would help you the most? Please rank from most to least important.

1. Medication instructions
2. Test and lab results
3. Insurance and billing
4. Consent and legal forms
5. Discharge and follow-up instructions
6. Appointment scheduling

What is your current employment status?

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Self-employed
• Homemaker or caregiver
• Student
• Retired
• Not currently employed
• Prefer not to say

In which country do you currently live?

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Australia
• Other
• Prefer not to say