Landscaping the terminology of accessible language document types

Abstract

There are three main types of accessible language documents that medical writers and medical publications professionals may work on. These are regulatory lay summaries, publication-associated plain language summaries (PLS), and standalone plain language summaries of publications (PLSPs). Although these document types have different purposes and audiences, they are often confused because of the similar names. Here, we outline the main differences between the three document types and present the different names used to refer to lay summaries across 58 pharmaceutical companies, totalling 22 names. We also show examples of the different literacy levels used in lay summaries and publication-associated PLS. Medical publications professionals need to be aware of the differences between these accessible language document types and the importance of being precise when discussing these. Standardisation of terminology could potentially help to avoid confusion.

Plain language summaries: Enabling increased diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in scholarly publishing

“…This article has so far discussed the distinctions between publication‐associated PLS and standalone PLSPs, but a third plain language document further complicates the terminology landscape: regulatory Lay Summaries (Table 1). Among pharmaceutical companies and medical writing agencies, regulatory Lay Summaries are referred to by many different terms, for example, lay language summaries, trial results summaries, patient lay summaries (Griffiths et al, 2022), but are defined in official good practice guidelines as ‘Lay Summaries’ (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, 2021). These Lay Summaries are regulatory documents mandated by European Union legislation to disclose the results of clinical trials to trial participants (The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, 2014).…”

“…This explicit purpose of Lay Summaries, distinct to that of publication‐associated PLS and PLSPs, leads to a scope and target audience that are also distinct. The challenge here is that all of these different documents have been interchangeably referred to as ‘plain language summaries’, so clarity, education and awareness on distinguishing terminology are all needed (Griffiths et al, 2022). To help address this challenge, we believe professional associations and societies with involvement in PLS discussions should collaborate on further establishing the growing consensus on terminology for these plain language documents.…”

“…This article has so far discussed the distinctions between publicationassociated PLS and standalone PLSPs, but a third plain language document further complicates the terminology landscape: regulatory Lay Summaries (Table 1). Among pharmaceutical companies and medical writing agencies, regulatory Lay Summaries are referred to by many different terms, for example, lay language summaries, trial results summaries, patient lay summaries (Griffiths et al, 2022) , 2014). This explicit purpose of Lay Summaries, distinct to that of publication-associated PLS and PLSPs, leads to a scope and target audience that are also distinct.…”

“…referred to as 'plain language summaries', so clarity, education and awareness on distinguishing terminology are all needed (Griffiths et al, 2022). To help address this challenge, we believe professional associations and societies with involvement in PLS discussions should collaborate on further establishing the growing consensus on terminology for these plain language documents.…”

Open Pharma: Driving Positive Change in the Communication of Pharma-Sponsored Research

“…The growth in plain language documents within and beyond research publications will also require more precise use of the terminology used to refer to these documents. 20,23 Open Pharma will continue to champion best practice and cross-stakeholder collaboration in this area, working to expand the use and usefulness of PLS.…”