Behind the scenes: the vital role of the medical editor in public-health communications

Public-health organisations include government agencies, non-profit organisations, academic institutions and international health organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and, in the UK, Public Health England (PHE) or the National Health Service (NHS). They play a vital role in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of communities and populations. However, the impact of their communications would be limited without the contributions of the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that their messages are clear, accurate and effective. Among these invaluable professionals is the medical editor, a skilled role that plays a pivotal part in enhancing the communication efforts of public-health organisations. In this blog post, I delve into the world of medical editors and explore how they collaborate with public health organisations to disseminate vital information.

Key aims of public health

First, let's take a look into what public health is. The key aims include:

• Disease prevention: Public health aims to prevent diseases from occurring or spreading within populations. This involves vaccination campaigns, health education and promoting healthy behaviours like proper nutrition, exercise and smoking cessation.

• Health promotion: Public health advocates for healthy lifestyles and behaviours such as encouraging regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet and reducing substance abuse.

• Health education: Public-health organisations provide information and resources to raise awareness about health issues and empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding their health.

• Surveillance and monitoring: Public health relies on data collection and analysis to track disease trends, monitor health risks and identify potential outbreaks. This information helps guide public health interventions and policies.

• Health policy: Public-health organisations collaborate with policymakers to develop and implement effective health policies and manage healthcare systems.

• Epidemiology: This is a core discipline in public health that investigates diseases within populations.

• Global health: Public health addresses health issues on a global scale, such as infectious-disease outbreaks, poverty-related illnesses and access to healthcare in developing countries.

The materials and communications that public-health organisations create are designed to educate and inform the public. Here are some examples:

• Public-health campaigns to raise awareness about specific health issues such as anti-smoking campaigns, mental-health campaigns, vaccination campaigns and campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles.

• Health-education materials to educate the public on various health topics. They cover a wide range of subjects such as nutrition, sexual health, mental health and the prevention of specific diseases.

• Social-media campaigns to share health information, updates and advice through platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

• Press releases and newsletters to provide updates on health emergencies, outbreaks and important health-related announcements. Newsletters are also distributed to healthcare professionals and the public to share information on the latest research, policies and guidelines.

• Health-education workshops to teach individuals and communities about specific health issues and strategies for prevention.

There is a huge variety of materials that can be used to share this information. Some examples include:

• Brochures, booklets and pamphlets: Printed materials that provide information on specific health topics such as vaccination schedules, nutrition guidelines and tips for preventing common illnesses.

• Posters: Eye-catching posters displayed in public places to raise awareness about health issues like handwashing, smoking cessation or safe-sex practices.

• Infographics: Visual representations of data and statistics related to public-health topics.

• Websites and online resources: These are a good source of information on a wide range of topics, including disease prevention, health promotion and emergency preparation.

• Videos and webinars: Educational videos and webinars on various health topics, offering in-depth information and expert insights.

• Fact sheets: Concise one-page documents summarising key information about a specific health issue, such as its causes, symptoms and prevention.

• Billboards: Large outdoor advertisements featuring health messages targeting people in high-traffic areas.

• Mobile apps: Interactive applications that offer health tips, reminders and tools for tracking various health metrics like physical activity and nutrition.

So where does a freelance medical editor fit in?

These materials all play a crucial role in promoting public health and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Therefore, it is vital that materials are accurate and clear. A medical editor is a language expert and a key component of the communication team in public-health organisations. They possess a unique set of skills, combining a deep understanding of medical and scientific terminology with exceptional editorial abilities. Their primary responsibilities include the following:

• Ensuring accuracy and clarity: Public-health materials often contain critical information related to disease prevention, health promotion and treatment guidelines. A medical editor ensures that the content is accurate, clear and free from errors. This is vital as any inaccuracies or misunderstandings could have serious consequences for public-health initiatives and the general public.

• Communicating in plain language: Healthcare information can include complex medical and scientific terminology. One of the essential aspects of a medical editor's role is translating complex medical jargon into easily understandable language. They transform technical content into plain language, making it accessible to a broader audience, including policymakers, healthcare professionals and the general public. By bridging this communication gap, medical editors empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

• Maintaining consistency and style: Public-health organisations produce a wide range of materials, including reports, guidelines, brochures and educational materials. Maintaining a consistent voice and style is crucial for establishing a recognisable brand for public-health organisations. Medical editors are responsible for adhering to specific style guidelines and ensuring that all communications align with the organisation's messaging. Consistency in terminology and tone strengthens the credibility of the organisation.

• Ensuring quality: By using a medical editor, public-health organisations can maintain a high level of quality assurance for their materials. This enhances the credibility and reliability of the information being published.

• Reducing errors: Errors in public-health materials can lead to misinterpretation, misinformation or confusion, potentially compromising public-health interventions. A medical editor reduces the risk of such errors and helps ensure that the message is communicated accurately.

• Saving time and resources: Public-health organisations often face tight deadlines and may lack the in-house resource to thoroughly review and edit their materials. Outsourcing the editing tasks to a freelancer allows the in-house team to focus on other critical aspects of their work.

Final thoughts

The diligent work of a medical editor behind the scenes ensures that crucial health information reaches its intended audience accurately and effectively. By collaborating with a range of professionals, medical editors play a significant part in advancing public-health initiatives, promoting evidence-based practices and ultimately contributing to the wellbeing of communities worldwide.

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A note on terminology: The terms medical copyeditor, medical proofreader and medical editor are often confused and used interchangeably. To add to the confusion, there are yet other terms used for different niches such as plain-English editor, medico-legal copyeditor or editorial assistant (the latter is commonly used in medical communications). I personally use medical editor to describe my role, and medical editing to describe both medical copyediting and medical proofreading, as this suggests a hybrid approach as per my own clients' preferences ... plus, it's simpler! See here for more detail on the traditional differences between proofreading and copyediting.

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I am passionate about helping patients and the general public access healthcare information that they can understand through well-edited content. Get in touch if you need help turning your medical text into accessible information: https://www.jomurrayeditor.co.uk/contact