How “Lay” Is Your Lay Summary? by TransPerfect
Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, and House are each cherished TV series depicting medical emergencies intertwined with tantalizing hospital drama. While the storylines may differ, each series shares a similar theme: Every episode begins with the presentation of a patient case, followed by diagnostic testing, and finally a diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made, a healthcare professional diligently presents the case—stating symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. As soon as the patient is told their diagnosis, usually their first question is, “What does that mean?” While we often are wrapped up in the dramatic plot of these series, this patient moment is reflective of an everyday occurrence, wherein health literacy is a challenge in the patient landscape. So how can we, as healthcare professionals and scientists, make patient questions and concerns easier to answer?
Plain language summaries, often referred to as “lay summaries” or “lay language summaries,” have become an essential part of scientific communication. Plain language summaries are intended to increase the reach and impact of clinical research by informing patients of the relevance and outcomes of the research. The ultimate goal is to make the information easily understandable. Readability grading formulas help writers know the reading ease and accessibility of the content. But when we are targeting a diverse group of people, or the “general public,” the real question is how “lay” are these lay summaries for all audiences?