This webinar, led by Vidhi Vashish and a panel of experts from publishing, advocacy, and industry, explored the evolution of plain language summaries of publications (PLSPs), with emphasis on newer formats like video and audio summaries.
Discussions covered the need for accessible scientific communication, challenges in discoverability, the importance of multi-format distribution, and the critical role of patient involvement in both creation and review.
Panelists shared industry data, best practices, current barriers, implementation strategies, and future trends, including the use of AI.
The session included audience Q&A on practical implementation and concluded with optimism for increased adoption and innovation in PLSPs.
Action Items
None explicitly noted with specific deadlines in the transcript.
Introduction & Overview of PLSPs
PLSPs make scientific content accessible in everyday language for patients, families, and the general public.
Common formats include text summaries, standalone articles, supplementary documents, infographic abstracts, video and audio summaries, and translated material.
Regulatory and practice guidance (e.g., GPP 2022) supports communication to non-scientific audiences via PLSPs and extenders.
Non-patient groups, including healthcare professionals and publishers, also benefit from PLSPs.
Patient & Public Perspectives
The rise of open access and democratization of information increases the need for accurate, understandable health content.
Misinformation is widespread; PLSPs and multi-format accessibility are considered a moral and ethical responsibility.
Patients require clear information to support decision-making and effective self-advocacy.
Publisher Experience & Data Insights
Discoverability for non-specialist audiences is a key driver for format evolution.
Standalone PLSPs with DOIs make content more searchable; repositories are being developed for easier access.
Extenders (videos, podcasts, translations, interactives) improve inclusivity and engagement, addressing diverse learning preferences and accessibility needs.
Data from Taylor & Francis:
Articles with PLSPs have 25% more downloads.
PLSPs receive higher altmetric scores (38% more) and substantially higher downloads when extenders are used (154% increase).
Readership is global, with a near 50/50 split between technical and general sources.
A cross-publisher PLSP search engine is launching to address discoverability gaps.
Panel Discussion: Implementation, Challenges, and Best Practices
Personalization and understanding the needs of patient communities drive decisions on format and channel (e.g., using audio for low vision, animation for children).
Co-creation with patients is essential; their involvement ensures materials are usable and relevant.
Challenges include the limited number of publishers accepting PLSPs and need for education and process development within organizations.
Patient review panels play a crucial role in ensuring accessibility and relevance of both content and visuals.
Balancing advantages and risks in PLSPs is managed via translation—not promotion—of original peer-reviewed articles, with multi-stage review including patient and author input.
PLSPs are not currently mandated, but some companies are pledging to produce them for all clinical trials.
Practical Guidance for Newcomers
Resources are available from professional writing associations, publishers, and specialist agencies.
Engaging with trained medical writers and agencies with patient review processes is advisable.
Early engagement with patients and iterative feedback are critical to success.
Emphasis should be placed not just on language, but also on effective visual representation.
Future Trends & Outlook
The future points to increased patient-centric publications, broader use of multi-format extenders, unified guidance, and enhanced discoverability via shared search platforms.
Generative AI will augment the writing process but not replace human quality control or subject matter expertise; human review remains essential.
Continued collaboration among sponsors, publishers, agencies, and patient communities is expected.
Decisions
Adopt multi-format PLSPs and extenders as best practice for inclusivity and reach — Driven by evidence of increased access, engagement, and ethical responsibility.
Prioritize co-creation with patient communities for all PLSPs — Ensures relevance, usability, and accurate representation of needs.
Open Questions / Follow-Ups
No explicit follow-up items or unresolved questions indicated in the transcript; ongoing evolution of publisher acceptance and repository development will be monitored.