and meeting health literacy needs. Using plain language in addition to, or in place of, medical terminology can help patients make informed health decisions. Potential obstacles to high health literacy can stem from socioeconomic factors, such as race and poverty. Research continues to develop on best practices for plain language in the medical field. Meanwhile, various organizations have resources available, such as the AHRQ's Health Literacy Improvement Tools, the United States National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website, and the CDC's Plain Language Materials and Resources page. See also References Citation footnotes Click on the hyperlink to see the full citation. Full citations Bibliography Further reading External links "Federal Plain Language Guidelines", U.S. Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), (rev. May 2011) "A Plain English Handbook", U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Office of Investor Education and Assistance, (August 1998) Standard English