Plain Language Project

Target Audience:

The target audience that I have chosen is adults within a workplace setting, specifically speaking
employees within Human Resources (HR).

The reason why I am choosing HR as my target audience because within the workplace setting, they are
the ones who are pointed to a chair and desk at their work. Their entire day is spent sitting in front of a
computer. It is also mentioned within the article that adults are accustomed to a sedentary behaviour.
Within a sedentary behaviour there are many health issues that can arise such as non-communicable
diseases (NCD), your mental health, quality of life and well-being (Gualdi-Russo, Zaccagni, 2021).

Why was the study done?

In this article there were many studies done according to different types of people. They studied adults,
college students, men, female. The different studies that were done all pointed to show what the benefits
are of doing physical activity (PA). The different studies that took place all showed that those people who
were exercising regularly showed positive signs within their health. Different types of health conditions
such as heart attacks was lower in those people who would exercise. You must exercise regularly so you
can avoid these health problems and be able to live a better quality of life.

How was the study done?

The studies were done by separately according to the type of study that was being done. The first study
that they did was towards person physical performance and health status. In this study they had it done by
conducting a decision tree and logistic regression that help us identify the individuals who were at risk or
not. The second study was done for stroke survivors, people with multiple sclerosis which was done by
using testing their physical activity level by measuring their speed when performing the activity. The study
for people with mental health was done by testing their performance for exercising for 6 weeks for both
genders of college students and measuring it by a Venn diagram chart known as the biopsychosocial model
of health. The third study was done on South African adults by tracking their participation in physical
activity to determine how active they were or not active.

What did the researchers find?

In all the studies the researchers found that getting involved within physical activity helped to decrease
many of the health issues that people face throughout their lives. People who did daily activities had a
lower chance in having heart stroke. Physical activity has a positive impact on your mental health as well
such as helping to deal with depression. For the study done with the South African people it showed that
67% of adolescents who did not exercise lived a sedentary life and that males were more likely to engage
in physical activity rather than the females. Physical activity also helped to improve sleep with those
people who were dealing with stress. Overall, what the research found out from the studies was that
people who participated within physical activities lived and will live a healthier life and help stop from
different diseases and health condition from affecting them.

What are the implications of the study?

The implication of the study is that these studies helped to plan interventions for specific diseases, ages, or
population groups. These studies can help give us a guideline for a healthy lifestyle that will be done to
each person individuals needs and such. Physical activity is important to be established everywhere to
know the importance of it and how it can help reduce many health issues that can occur with age such as
heart problem, depression, body aches. Physical activity is a great way to help people deal with stress but
yet because the lack of promoting physical activity it is not prescribed to those who are going through
depression.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The strengths and weaknesses of this study is that there have been over 15 types of studies done in total
to help the types of effects physical activity has on individuals. Another strength is that the studies did not
focus on one type of people or location. In fact, they had different age groups, different genders, different
types of health issues that they were testing to see what types of affects physical activity would have on it.
Some of the weaknesses that stood out to me in the study is that there could have been reasons as to why
people are not as active as they should be. Other weaknesses are that for some studies only a certain type
of people that were not involved within the study. Another weakness within the studies was that it not
detailed as much as it should have been. Another strength is that all the studies done support physical
activity and to help decrease behaviour where you are just sitting within adolescents, adults, elderly.

Single Most Important Thing (SMIT)

The single most important thing from the article is that physical activity is has many health and wellness
benefits.

Bottom Line Actionable Message

The bottom-line actionable message is that get up and get active to help reduce you chances of health
problems.

Citation of Article
Gualdi-Russo, E., & Zaccagni, L. (2021). Physical Activity for Health and Wellness. International Journal

of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 7823.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157823
 Plain Language Project – Plain Language Chart Template

Word choice
Criteria: Example(s) from report:
1) Uses familiar, everyday words Physical activity (PA)
non-communicable diseases (NCD)
strengths and weaknesses
participated
mental health
depression, body aches
age groups, different genders, different types of
health issues
2) Uses ‘you’ and other pronouns to speak to They studied adults, college students, men,
the reader female.
If you exercise regularly, you can avoid these
health problems and be able to live a better
quality of life.
lower chance in having heart stroke.
also helped to improve sleep with those people
who were dealing with stress
can help give us a guideline for a healthy lifestyle
3) Uses active voice 67% of adolescents who did not exercise lived a
sedentary life
testing their performance for exercising for 6
weeks for both genders of college students
people who were exercising regularly showed
positive signs within their health
4) Uses base verbs The first study that they did was towards person
physical performance and health status
5) Omits excess words people who would exercise (would is excess)
helped to decrease many of the health issues
(many is excess)
6) Uses the simplest tense possible – simple guideline for a healthy lifestyle that will be done to
present tense is best each person individuals needs and such
Physical activity has a positive impact on your
mental health
7) Uses ‘must’ to express requirements You must exercise regularly
8) Places words carefully help us identify the individuals who were at risk or
not.
Knowledge Translation Principles
Criteria: Example(s) from report:
1) Written for the reader Lack of physical activity can cause health issues to
arise such as non-communicable diseases (NCD),
your mental health, quality of life and well-being
2) Organized to serve the reader's needs Target Audience:
Why was the study done?
How was the study done?
What did the researchers find?

3) Content is accurate and evidence-based
What are the implications of the study?
SMIT
BLAM
Gualdi-Russo, E., & Zaccagni, L. (2021). Physical
Activity for Health and Wellness. International
Journal of Environmental Research and Public
Health, 18(15), 7823.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157823

4) The material is actionable, if appropriate people who participated within physical activities
lived and will live a healthier life and help stop
from different diseases and health condition from
affecting them.

References:

The Hospital for Sick Children (2014). Plain Language Writing Template. Retrieved from:
https://www.sickkids.ca/PDFs/Learning/Knowledge%20Translation%20Program/Resource
%20page/73222-Plain%20Language%20Checklist_Jan2017%20SickKids%20Learning
%20Institute%20(002).pdf