The Equal Opportunities Committee (CPO) of the University of Genoa took part in the fourth edition of the DiParola Festival, held on October 2 and 3, 2026, in Ravenna. They presented their experience from the workshop "In plain words or simple terms?" ("In parole povere o in parole semplici?"), which was dedicated to clear and accessible healthcare communication.
What is DiParola Festival?
Founded in 2023, DiParola Festival is the premier Italian event dedicated to clear language and inclusive, accessible communication. Through workshops, talks, case studies, and discussion sessions, it connects experiences from universities, public administration, healthcare, businesses, and the communications sector. The 2026 edition, themed "Opening Doors" ("Aprire le porte"), featured a dedicated section on narrative medicine and clear communication in the healthcare field.
The CPO Experience
During the presentation titled "In simple terms or plain words? From WHO recommendations to healthcare reality," Paola Pastorino presented the project launched in Genoa through the workshop held in May 2025 at the Galliera Hospital. The initiative brought together over 50 participants, including healthcare professionals, students, university staff, researchers, and representatives of community associations. Across three workshops, participants addressed the clear drafting of medical texts, the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence for simplification, and the role of non-verbal and visual communication.
Bringing this experience to DiParola was also an opportunity to share a key insight gained through the CPO’s work: understanding information about one's own health is an essential requirement for taking an active, informed role in personal care pathways. Making medical language clearer does not mean dumbing it down; rather, it means ensuring that even complex information can be understood by diverse audiences. This principle aligns perfectly with the Festival’s 2026 theme: using words to "open doors," reduce barriers, and make services, knowledge, and rights more accessible.