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N-PLAT: plain-language assessment of text and design

N-PLAT is IHA’s plain-language assessment for health materials. It looks at the words and the design together, item by item.

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In 30 seconds

  • N-PLAT is IHA’s plain-language assessment for health materials.
  • It looks at the words and the design together, item by item against the N-PLAT criteria.
  • Each criterion is scored with the reason behind the score and the change that would improve it.

What it measures

Plain-language assessment of the text and design of health materials. It was developed by IHA (Institute for Healthcare Advancement).

How it scores

Item by item against the N-PLAT criteria. Each criterion is scored with the reason behind the score and the change that would improve it.

Illustrative

A sample page with five numbered items: three on the text and two on the design. Item 2 is selected.12345
  • Items on the text
  • Items on the design

One item, as the assessment reports it

Score
Example score
Reason
The deadline sits in the middle of a long paragraph.
Change
Put the deadline in its own short sentence at the top.
Words and design are assessed together, item by item. Every item carries a score, the reason for it and the change that would improve it.

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HealthLiteracyCopilot and IHA

HealthLiteracyCopilot is a HealthcareGPS product, with health literacy standards by Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA).

See it on your own document

The free full assessment scores one of your documents against N-PLAT, with the reason behind every criterion score and what to fix first.

  1. Upload one documentA notice, letter or handout
  2. Personal information is redacted first
  3. You check it before scoring
  4. Scored against N‑PLATThe reason behind every criterion score, and what to fix first

Your next step

Upload one notice, letter or handout. Personal information is redacted first, and you check it before scoring.

Get a free assessment of one document

Send a blank template, not a copy with a patient's or member's details.

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Sources

Questions

How is N-PLAT different from a readability formula?

A formula counts sentence and word length. N-PLAT assesses the text and the design against plain-language criteria, with a reason for each score.