Health literacy research and interventions have provided multiple tools to improve communication between professionals and patients in clinical contexts for many years. Despite the reality that many patients participate in clinical trials in conjunction with standard medical care, only recently have efforts extended to address and improve the health literacy of both clinical trial researchers and participants. To date, the primary focus of health literacy activities in clinical trials has centered on communicating trial results to trial participants. This report describes the opportunities and strategies necessary to layer health literacy activities across the clinical trial process from consent to conclusion.
Keywords: Health literacy; clinical trials; plain language; science communication.