Medical and scientific communication: disseminating knowledge for the benefit of patients and practitioners
31/10/2024
Manufacturers use ever-more-innovative technology to provide items at the forefront of medical research, contributing to the design and constant evolution of these advancements. However, these innovations often remain unknown or invisible to the general public. It is therefore essential for manufacturers to make them accessible to their customers and potential users, especially healthcare professionals and patients. Clear communication not only guarantees the safe and effective use of products, but also promotes a better understanding of medical and scientific technologies.
How can manufacturers communicate more effectively? This article highlights the value of popularizing science and medicine while making the latest developments in science and technology accessible and intelligible to everyone.
Popularizing science
The popularization of science entails a simplification of the language used to communicate complex scientific, medical, and technical concepts. This enables everyone to use these concepts in their daily lives and in decision-making involving the family, the community or society at large. Scientific disclosure, on the other hand, refers to all methods of disseminating scientific and technological information[1]. By simplifying these concepts without altering their content, popularization promotes better understanding, especially among the general public.
Public dissemination influences the behavior of consumers and healthcare professionals. Strategies for public dissemination seek to increase the efficacy and efficiency of the healthcare system while promoting health democracy, which considers the dissemination of information as a fundamental right, regardless of cost[2].
Developing popularization is crucial to enhancing the scientific culture of the general public and proving the tangible impact of investments in science and technology. To enhance their potential for industrial innovation and their commitment to scientific, technological, and industrial development, manufacturers must intensify their efforts to increase the recognition of scientific research amid ongoing scientific and technological advancements[3].
The valorization of scientific research
According to the Comité National d’Évaluation (France), valorization is defined as the process of “making research results, knowledge and skills usable or marketable”[4].
It is crucial to develop, transfer, and master all the activities and methods that allow academic knowledge and expertise to generate greater added value and thus make the results and knowledge of research marketable or usable. Due to process or product innovation, it is imperative to consider commercialization in terms of its industrial implications while including the continuing education required for its development. A commercialization policy must focus on the market by putting forward creative ideas or innovative solutions, whether new or improved4, thus stimulating the economy and industrial competitiveness.
The valorization of research is governed by certain regulations, in particular French Law No. 84-52 of January 26, 1984, which outlines the goals of the public higher education service, including research and its valorization. Furthermore, French Law No. 82-610 of July 15, 1982, emphasizes the value of expanding knowledge, valorizing research findings and disseminating scientific information while promoting French as the language of science4.
The valorization of research not only involves dissemination to the scientific community, notably through the publication of peer-reviewed scientific articles, but also communication to a broader audience through popularized content.
The benefits of clear, comprehensible communication
According to French Law No. 2002-303 of March 4, 2002, every person “has the right to be informed of their state of health [… including…] the investigations, treatments, or preventive actions proposed, their usefulness, any urgency, their consequences, the frequent or serious risks that are normally foreseeable, as well as other possible solutions and the foreseeable consequences in case of refusal. When, after the investigations, treatments or preventive actions have been carried out, new risks are identified, the person concerned must be informed, unless it is impossible to trace them“ (Article 11 Chapter II: Rights and responsibilities of users)[5].
The Council of Europe likewise stipulates that patients and citizens have “the right to receive and have easy access to relevant information about their health and healthcare in a form and language they can understand”. In other words, the relevant given information must be based on scientific data (derived from national and local guidelines) and comprehensible to diverse audiences (healthcare professionals, patients, and decision-makers)[6].
Healthcare professionals are required to provide a thorough explanation of the tests and treatments they are considering. By providing additional written information, they reinforce the knowledge of the patient and/or user, enabling them to take part in the decision-making process more effectively6.
The readability of the information is an important factor: overly technical or abstract language may result in diminished patient engagement, potentially leading to non-adherence to recommendations. The choice of syntax, text structure, and semantics is just as important as the layout and use of illustrations. Therefore, using straightforward language avoids wasting time due to misunderstandings and the need to re-explain information.
However, readability must not compromise transparency. Open communication regarding development processes, clinical trials, and side effects builds user trust and raises public awareness of scientific and medical issues while combating misinformation. This approach fosters a relationship of trust, thereby increasing patient autonomy6.
Tailoring communication to target specific audiences: 4 key elements
1) Train clients to ensure product proficiency
The type of clients targeted by manufacturers of medicines and healthcare products mainly include healthcare professionals, such as physicians, nurses, or medical technicians, who need precise and detailed communication about the product or procedure. Manufacturers must fully disclose information regarding the technical characteristics of the products, including indications and contraindications, as well as instructions for use and maintenance protocols (if applicable).
Training is an essential part of this communication. Manufacturers are obliged to conduct training sessions to ensure that healthcare professionals and/or users completely understand how to utilize healthcare products or medicines. This includes hands-on demonstrations, detailed user manuals, and visual aids. Technical support is also required to address inquiries and resolve issues that may arise when using the products. For more details, read our article on medical visits.
Advancements in technology have made it necessary for manufacturers to regularly interact with and instruct their customers on new features, upgrades, and enhancements to their current products. This proactive communication enables healthcare professionals to stay up-to-date and utilize items to their full potential for the benefits of patients and users.
2) Educate patients to guarantee proper understanding
Patients are often the end-users of healthcare products, and their safety and well-being depend on their understanding and correct use of these products. Manufacturers must therefore offer clear and accessible information to patients.
Instructions for use and guides supplied with products should be written in plain, easy-to-understand language. They should include step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and practical advice to help patients, consumers, and users use products safely. Educational videos and online tutorials are also helpful in reinforcing understanding. Awareness campaigns, instructional brochures or leaflets and dedicated websites can inform patients about the risks and benefits of the products, as well as best practices in their use. The European medical device database EUDAMED, for instance, plays a key role in enhancing overall transparency for both the general public and medical professionals. EUDAMED will provide the public with the opportunity to learn about reported incidents, track the development of clinical trials, and acquire information about medical products available in Europe[7].
3) Promoting an informed health culture
The popularization of science and medicine plays a crucial role in bringing research closer to society. Increasing public access to scientific knowledge encourages health literacy, especially among young people[8]. With a variety of resources at their disposal, young people, their parents, and the professionals who interact with them may access trustworthy and reliable sources of knowledge about the latest advances in science and technology. These resources include social media, blog posts, educational videos, and infographics.
4) Contributing to advances in scientific research
Promoting advances in scientific research mainly involves publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals, composed of international experts in the field. This also entails content evaluation by peers (anonymous external experts), recruited from time to time for the specific requirements of certain articles, thus reinforcing the reliability and significance of the data with the scientific community. Manufacturers contribute to scientific expertise by disseminating and adding value to their findings at conferences, in the form of posters, presentations, or speeches, providing an opportunity to exchange views with peers in their discipline.
Conclusion
Medical and scientific communication is fundamental to ensuring the safe and effective use of technologies, building trust, and promoting a better health culture. In general, depending on the field, original research is published in English, helping to raise its visibility among experts worldwide. However, the majority of the general public may lack the time or skills to understand the issues and implications of these works. Science popularization plays a key role in the transfer and valorization of this knowledge by making it accessible to a wider public, in a form adapted to their needs and level of knowledge. Manufacturers thus enhance popularity and use of their products, but also contribute to a more informed and engaged health culture by investing in straightforward and open communication strategies.
Do you need help?
Contact our experts in scientific and medical writing to assist you in communicating more effectively and conveying technical or scientific concepts in simple and easy-to-understand terms for your customers or internal teams. We can help you with:
- Publications for peer-reviewed journals (scientific articles, systematic reviews, narrative reviews) or consumer magazines (popularized articles)
- Scientific posters
- Websites / blogs
- Sales brochures
- Training of your employees and teams (sales, management, etc.) with the possibility of creating e-learning modules
Contact us at onedt@efor-group.com
[1] Oliveira, A. J. S., & Oliveira, C. B. M. (2020). Island of science laboratory: scientific divulgation with vector for popularization of science. International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science, Jaipur, 7(5), 10-16.
[2] https://www.has-sante.fr/upload/docs/application/pdf/2011-02/impact_rapport_fermon_levy_diffusion_publique.pdf
[3] Ren, F., Zhang, Y., & Liu, G. (2021). Introduction to the science popularization industry. Springer Nature.
[4] https://www.cne-evaluation.fr/fr/present/som_mis.htm, « La valorisation de la recherche (observations sur le cadre, les structures et les pratiques dans les EPCSCP – 1999), (60 pages – format pdf) ».
[5] https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000227015?init=true&page=1&query=loi+2002-303&searchField=ALL&tab_selection=all
[6] https://www.has-sante.fr/upload/docs/application/pdf/2009-10/elaboration_document_dinformation_des_patients_-_guide_methodologique.pdf
[7] https://ansm.sante.fr/actualites/base-de-donnees-eudamed-pour-les-dispositifs-medicaux-lancement-du-module-destine-a-lenregistrement-des-operateurs#:~:text=EUDAMED%20est%20une%20nouvelle%20base%20de%20donn%C3%A9es%20europ%C3%A9enne%20sur%20les
[8] https://sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/rapport_nyadanu_-_martinot.pdf
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