Health Literacy: How Visuals Can Help Tell the Healthcare Story

Herb, a 66-year old general contractor, had a major heart attack five years ago. His doctor performed an emergency coronary angiography to examine the blood vessels and chambers of his heart. After the procedure, Herb's doctor gave him a simple line drawing of the heart and arteries. She then coloured in where each artery was blocked and wrote alongside how much each was occluded. Seeing so clearly what was wrong, Herb readily agreed to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program and change his diet and exercise habits. He did so well that he was asked to speak with other patients who had just been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. To Herb's surprise and disappointment, not one of the more than 100 people he spoke with had ever been given a 'heart picture' like his. Herb often hears people say how these types of drawings could have helped them better understand their diagnosis and treatment recommendations.