Kontakt X:X | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.053

Evaluating plain language skills among healthcare professionals in the Czech Republic: a pilot surveyNursing - Original article

Andrea Pokorná ORCID..., Petra Búřilová ORCID..., Dana Dolanová ORCID..., Natálie Beharková ORCID...
Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic

Background: Plain language is essential for safe, patient-centred communication and supports health literacy. However, its practical use among healthcare professionals remains inconsistent.

Aim: To assess competencies in plain language use - knowledge, recognition, application, and self-efficacy - among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Czech Republic.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey (11/2025-01/2026) was conducted using a 20-item questionnaire focusing on plain-language knowledge. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn's post-hoc, Shapiro-Wilk test) were applied.

Results: A total of 347 respondents participated (age 40.40 ± 11.62 yrs; 90.78% female). Mean scores were 4.69 for knowledge (0-6), 5.61 for recognition (0-6), 2.95 for application (0-4), and 9.20 for self-efficacy (0-16). Recognition skills were consistently high, while application showed greater variability, with the lowest item performance at 49%. No significant differences in knowledge or application were found across education levels. Recognition differed significantly by education (p = 0.03), favouring higher degrees. Applications varied by experience (p < 0.001), with novices outperforming more experienced groups.

Conclusion: While HCPs demonstrate strong recognition of plain language principles, gaps remain in their practical application. Targeted training focused on applied communication skills is needed to strengthen patient-centred care.

Keywords: Communication skills; Health literacy; Healthcare professionals; Patient-centred care; Plain language; Questionnaire validation
Grants and funding:

This work was supported by the Czech Health Research Council under grant NU23-09-00328; Methodology of creating plain language recommendations for knowledge translation to support evidence-based decision-making in healthcare in the Czech Republic.

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: June 2, 2026; Revised: July 8, 2026; Accepted: August 22, 2026; Prepublished online: September 3, 2026 

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