"I didn't go to medical school, so I didn't know what I was signing." To prevent this reaction from clinical trial volunteers, medical writers must write informed consents that are clear and unambiguous.

In this half-day seminar, writers learn how to speed the recruiting process, minimize complaints from institutional review boards, and comply with HIPAA and other regulatory requirements.

Participants also examine the necessary elements of the consent document and then practice skills for making complex information clear to a broad range of readers. By using computer tools as well as a manual approach for gauging readability, participants check the "fog index" of their documents.

Seminar Topics

• Using words readers will understand

• Writing concise, readable sentences

• Eliminating exculpatory and confusing language

• Presenting study elements in consistent structure

• Achieving a readable style with transitions and appropriate active verbs

• Measuring "fog index" by using readability tools

• Structuring for reader ease

• Editing for correctness and unnecessary technical content