Section 4.6 Engage people with interactive content and graphics

Whenever possible, provide health information in multiple formats — for example, audio, video, interactive graphics, quizzes, or slideshows. Multimedia can improve learning and engagement, particularly for people with limited literacy skills.⁸⁸

Choose formats that support your content

Before you decide on a format, think about the information you’re trying to communicate. Each type of media fosters learning in its own way. Make sure each piece of media you use supports the text — using media only as decoration can distract your users.⁸⁹

Make multimedia content accessible

Always include a descriptive caption that explains the picture.⁹⁰ Use alternative text (“alt text”) to describe graphics for people using screen readers. Get tips for writing alt text.

Screen readers are programs that “read” content and navigation on a computer screen using speech or Braille output. They’re used mainly by people who have trouble seeing.⁹¹ When using audio or video, be sure to include a text alternative or transcript, so the content is accessible to all users.^{92, 93, 94}

If you’re posting videos on a dedicated YouTube channel, use the closed captioning options available. You can find details in these instructions from YouTube.

Consider quizzes

Use quizzes to encourage active learning. After each question, give helpful feedback. Invite your users to customize content to their personal interests or characteristics. This will help encourage them to interact with your content. 

That said, be careful not to ask for too much information. In general, people want personalized health information, but they don’t want to enter a lot of personal details.^{50, 62, 71} Consider interactive content that only requires users to enter a few pieces of information about themselves.

Use images that help people learn

Including simple visuals to support written text can help people with limited literacy skills find, understand, communicate, and use health information. Think of graphics as a way to enhance and explain your content, not as decorations. Also look out for visuals that might actually diminish your content — busy, bright, or animated graphics can be distracting and are often mistaken for advertisements.⁶⁴

Choose realistic images

Use realistic pictures to illustrate health behaviors and clarify medical concepts. People prefer photographs of “real” people rather than illustrations or people who look like models.⁷¹ It’s also important to show people from different racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, people of different body sizes, and other demographic characteristics. That way, more people will be able to “see” themselves on your site — and more easily relate to your content.

Here are a few tips for choosing images that are relatable and effective:

• When possible, choose photos that reflect your intended audience’s identities and experiences in terms of race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, family dynamics, and more.
• Increase visibility of groups that are underrepresented, like people with disabilities.
• Don’t reinforce negative stereotypes — for example, avoid only showing white men as doctors and women as nurses.
• Pay attention to the background of photos — for example, avoid settings that are overly staged and show a range of houses and apartments, urban and rural settings, and so forth.
• If you’re using AI technology to generate images, be sure to check that the people displayed look anatomically correct. 

Keep in mind that people tend to react strongly to images, so be sure to test your site with images included. Pay attention to users’ reactions to the images — they may surprise you!

When illustrating an anatomical or medical concept, consider a simplified drawing that minimizes detail to show only what’s relevant.^{95, 96}