Language: Spanish

A village scene from south America- cobblestone road, motorcycle in forgrround

Spanish Language Health Resources

UW = UW Medicine Resource

* = External Resource

Aging and Elderly Care | Envejecimiento y Cuidado de los Ancianos

Caregiver Support and Resources | Apoyo y recursos para cuidadores

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease | Demencia y la enfermedad de Alzheimer

End-of-Life and Palliative Care | cuidados paliativos al final de la vida or atención al final de la vida

Healthy Aging and Lifestyle | Envejecimiento saludable y estilo de vida

Cultural and Spiritual Health | Salud Cultural y Espiritual

End of Life | Cuidados al final de la vida

Incorporating Traditional Healing Practices with Modern Medicine | La incorporación de prácticas de sanación tradicionales a la medicina moderna

Religious Observances and Health Implications | Prácticas Religiosas y Repercusiones en la Salud

Clinical Instructions | Instrucciones clínicas

Dermatology  | Dermatología

Neurology | Neurología

Pain | Dolor

Chronic Disease | Enfermedad Crónica

Cancer | El el Cáncer

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) | Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (ECV)

Chronic Respiratory Diseases (e.g., asthma, COPD) | Enfermedades Respiratorias Crónicas (por ejemplo, asma, EPOC) [1]

Diabetes (Type 1) | Diabetes (Tipo 1)

Diabetes (Type 2) | Diabetes (Tipo 2)

Hypertension | Hipertensión

Stroke | Derrame Cerebral

Environmental Health | Salud Ambienta

Air Quality and Pollution | “Calidad del aire y contaminación

Disasters | Desastres

Heat Advisory and shelters | Advertencia de calor y refugios

Lead Poisoning | Intoxicación por plomo

Occupational Health | Salud ocupacional

Pesticides and Household Chemicals | Pesticidas y productos químicos domésticos

Safe Water and Sanitation (Include Fun to Catch, Toxic to Eat) | Agua potable y saneamiento

Healthcare Access and Navigation | Acceso y Navegación en Salud

Medications | Los Medicamentos

Access to Interpreters and Translation Services | Acceso a servicios de interpretación y traducción

Health Insurance Education (Medicaid, private insurance) | Educación sobre seguros de salud

Understanding Healthcare Rights and Responsibilities | Educación sobre seguros de salud

Patient Advocacy Resources | Recursos de defensa del paciente

Understanding Medical Bills and Financial Aid | Comprender las facturas médicas y la ayuda financiera

Refugee Health | Salud de los refugiados

Infectious Disease | Enfermedad infecciosa

Hepatitis B and C | Hepatitis B y C

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (e.g. measles, polio) | Enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación or enfermedades inmunoprevenibles

Tuberculosis (TB) | Tuberculosis (TB)

HIV/AIDS | VIH/sida

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) | Infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS)

Respiratory Infections | Infecciones respiratorias

Injury Prevention and Public Safety | Prevención de Lesiones y Seguridad Pública

Road Traffic Safety | Seguridad vial

Domestic Violence Prevention | Prevención de la violencia doméstica

Gun Violence and Safety | La violencia armada y la seguridad

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation | Terapia Física y Rehabilitación

Mental Health | La salud mental

Anxiety | Ansiedad

Depression | La depresión

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT)

Suicidal Ideation and Prevention | Ideación y prevención suicida

Maternal and Child Health | Salud materno-infantil

Childhood Vaccination Schedules | Calendarios de vacunación infantil

Maternal/Child Nutrition | Nutrición materno-infantil

Pediatric Care (common childhood illnesses) | Atención pediátrica (enfermedades comunes de la infancia)

Prenatal Care | Cuidados prenatales

Nutrition and Food Security | Seguridad alimentaria y nutricional

Food Security and Access | Seguridad Alimentaria y Acceso

Healthy Eating and Dietary Guidelines | Alimentación Saludable y Guías Alimentarias

Managing Malnutrition and Obesity | Manejo de la desnutrición y la obesidad

Oral Health | Salud bucodental

Dental Health for Children and Elderly Populations | Salud dental para poblaciones infantiles y de la tercera edad

Oral Hygiene | Higiene bucal

Preventative Care | Atención preventiva

Substance Use and Harm Reduction | Consumo de sustancias y reducción de daños

Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention | Prevención del consumo de alcohol y drogas

Harm Reduction Strategies | Estrategias de reducción de daños

Opioid Use and Overdose Prevention | Prevención del uso y la sobredosis de opioides

Smoking and Tobacco Cessation | Cese del tabaquismo y consumo de tabaco

Sexual and Gender Minorities | Minorías sexuales y de género

Community Resources | Recursos Comunitario

LGBTQ+ Health Education | Educación en salud LGBTQ+

Transgender Health and Care Access | Acceso a la salud y atención para personas transgénero

Sexual and Reproductive Health | Salud sexual y reproductiva

Access to Reproductive Health Services | Acceso a los Servicios de Salud Reproductiva

Family Planning and Contraception | Planificación Familiar y Anticoncepción

Women’s Health | Salud de la mujer

Menstrual Health | Salud menstrual

wrapping net gauze around a finger that has 'greasy gauze' for burn wounds

Wound Care for Burns – Multi-Lingual Video Series

This instructional video provides step-by-step guidance for burn wound care using greasy gauze (Vaseline gauze) and standard gauze dressings. Designed for patients and caregivers, the video reinforces clinical instructions to be able to treat small burns at home, or to continue treatment for larger burns after seeing a healthcare provider.

In this video, you will learn: 

  • Greasy gauze is a common type of bandage used to help protect and heal burns
  • How to safely remove an old burn bandage
  • How to clean burns and apply new bandages
  • Signs and symptoms of infection to watch for
  • How to reduce the risk of infection in burns 
  • How to apply and wrap bandages for burns on the arm, hand, torso, and leg
  • When to seek additional help in caring for burns

This educational resource is intended to supplement the instructions provided by your medical care team. Always follow the guidance of your burn care provider.  Printable PDF with QR Code with links to each video.

Scroll down to view: English, Amharic, Arabic, French, Lingala , Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese

English language: ‘A Step by Step Guide to Burn Care Using Greasy Gauze – supplies list and how to wrap burns’

Amharic Language: በቅባት የራሰ ፋሻን በመጠቀም የቃጠሎ እንክብካቤ የደረጃ በደረጃ መመሪያ – የአቅርቦቶች ዝርዝር እና የቃጠሎ ቁስሎችን እንዴት መጠቅለል እንደሚቻል

Arabic Language: دليل العناية بالحروق خطوة بخطوة باستخدام الشاش الدهني – قائمة اللوازم وكيفية لف الحروق

French Language: ‘Guide pratique : soins des brûlures avec ccompresse de gaze grasse et vaseline‘

Lingala Language: Lisungi : Kosalisa mpota ya kozika na moto na ba pansement ya compresse mpe na mafuta ya vaseline

Spanish Language: ‘Guía paso a paso para el cuidado de quemaduras con “Greasy Gauze”: materiales y cómo vendarlas‘

Russian Language: Уход за ожогом: повязка с мазью, материалы и как наложить повязку

Vietnamese Language: Hướng dẫn từng bước cách chăm sóc vết bỏng bằng gạc tẩm mỡ – vật dụng và cách băng

To improve accessibility and health equity, these burn care videos are being translated into multiple languages. Additional language versions will be added as they become available. 

We encourage you to share these resources with your communities to support safe, informed burn recovery at home.

Suggested use for providers: 

  • Share videos during patient appointments and community health events 
  • Include video links in discharge paperwork 
  • Promote at global outreach efforts

Burn care can be complex, involving multiple steps that may feel overwhelming for patients and caregivers. This challenge is even greater for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), who may face additional barriers in understanding and following detailed wound care protocols. As patients transition from hospital care to at-home recovery, it is essential that they clearly understand and follow proper burn wound care instructions to achieve the best possible outcomes. To address this need, EthnoMed partnered with Harborview’s Burns, Plastics, and Pediatric Acute Care Unit to develop accessible, visual education tools to support safe and effective burn care at home. 

A burn is an injury to the skin caused by something hot, like fire, hot water, steam, or even touching something like a hot pan. Burns can also be caused by cold, electricity, chemicals, or the sun. No matter what causes the burn, the skin needs the right care to heal well and stay healthy.

A burn is an injury to the skin caused by something hot, like fire, hot water, steam, or even touching something like a hot pan. Burns can also be caused by cold, electricity, chemicals, or the sun. No matter what causes the burn, the skin needs the right care to heal well and stay healthy. 

A collage of six health providers, for informational videos

Measles Vaccine PSA Videos – Multilingual Tools for Patient Education

To support providers in addressing rising measles cases, we’ve created a short video PSA available in seven languages commonly spoken in King County and other diverse communities. These videos are designed to be shared with patients and families to increase awareness about measles and the importance of MMR vaccination. Language access includes: English, Arabic, French, Lingala, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian.

Each video features culturally and linguistically appropriate messaging that addresses common concerns and emphasizes the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

Key message points include:

  • Measles is highly contagious and spreading
  • The MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and long-lasting
  • Vaccination protects individuals and the community
  • Free or low-cost vaccines are available

Suggested use for providers:

  • Video playback in waiting areas or exam rooms
  • Share videos during patient appointments
  • Include video links in clinic newsletters or text outreach
  • Use at community health events or vaccine drives

Please share these videos with your community!

English Language Measles Vaccine PSA
Arabic Language Measles Vaccine PSA
French Language Measles Vaccine PSA
Lingala Language Measles Vaccine PSA
Somali Language Measles Vaccine PSA
Spanish Language Measles Vaccine PSA
Swahili Language Measles Vaccine PSA
Ukrainian Language Measles Vaccine PSA

Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness & Prevention Public Service Announcements (multilingual)

About These PSAs

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious bacterial infection that affects the lungs and can spread to others if left untreated. Many people are unaware that TB exists in two forms: latent TB infection (LTBI) and active TB disease. Early screening and treatment can prevent the spread of TB and protect community health.

To ensure that non-English-speaking community members receive accurate information about TB, we have created multilingual public service announcements (PSAs). These short videos provide essential details about TB screening, treatment, and prevention in multiple languages. Health care providers and community organizations are encouraged to share these PSAs with individuals who may be at risk.

What You’ll Learn in These Videos

Each PSA explains;

  • The difference between latent TB infection and active TB disease
  • The importance of TB screening, especially for people from countries where TB is common
  • Recommended TB blood tests, including interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) like QuantiFERON
  • The connection between HIV and TB and why dual screening is important
  • Treatment options for latent TB infection to prevent active TB disease

Encourage Screening & Testing

If you haven’t been screened for TB yet, talk to your primary care doctor or visit a local clinic. If you don’t have a primary care provider, King County Public Health TB program can help you find a place to get tested (HealthPoint, SeaMar, or Neighborcare). Visit the King County Community Health Access program for more assistance.

Taking care of your health starts with knowing your TB status. Together, we can prevent TB and keep our communities healthy!

Share the PSAs in Your Communities Language

We offer these PSAs in multiple languages to serve diverse communities. Click below to watch and share:

ENGLISH- Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center 

LINGALA- Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center 

SWAHILI – Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center

SPANISH – Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center

UKRAINIAN – Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center

SOMALI – Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center

FRENCH – Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center

ARABIC- Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center 

KHMER Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center

HINDI – Tuberculosis Awareness and Prevention PSA – Harborview Medical Center 

This project has been generously supported by the following funders:

TB Elimination Alliance (2023-2024 Mini-Grant Program)
Firland Foundation (2024-2025 Community Grant)

Winter – Cold Weather and Power Outage Safety

Winter brings cold temperatures, snow, freezing rain, and high winds. When rain freezes, ice weighs down trees and power lines, this can lead to power outages (see below for multi-language fact sheets).

Photo by Brett Sayles (cc license)

During a winter storm

Washington Department of Health tips:

  • Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear mittens rather than gloves. Wear a warm, woolen cap.
  • Do not drive unnecessarily.
  • Reduce the temperature in your home to conserve fuel.
  • Heat only the areas of your home you are using. Close doors and curtains or cover windows and doors with blankets.
  • Use alternative heat methods safely. Never use a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home.
  • Never use a generator indoors or in a garage or carport.
  • Be careful when shoveling snow. Do not overexert yourself.
  • Be sure to eat regularly. Food provides calories that maintain body heat.
  • Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia — slurred speech, disorientation, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
  • If you become trapped outside, get out of the wind and stay dry. Build a lean-to or snow cave if nothing else is available. Do not eat snow; it will make you too cold.

If in your vehicle

  • Make sure someone knows where you are going. Stay on the main roads.
  • If you must stop, remain inside the vehicle. Use a bright distress flag or your hazard lights to draw attention to your vehicle.
  • If trapped in a blizzard, clear your tail pipe and run your engine and heater for 10 minutes every hour. Open your window slightly.
  • During night hours, keep the dome light on in the car so rescue crews can see your vehicle.
  • Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include a three-day supply of water and non-perishable food that can be eaten without being cooked. Include a blanket or sleeping bag for each passenger, a flashlight, cell phone, shovel, sack of sand or kitty litter, booster cables, flare, coffee can with lid, and toilet paper.

PDF tip sheets in other languages: Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

What should I do if I see damaged or downed power lines?

Department of Health Seattle & King County:

  • Don’t get near any fallen or sagging power line!
  • Call the utility company about the line
    (Seattle area residents: 206-684-7400, other King County residents: 1-888-225-5773).

If you have a power outage, safe ways to stay warm

  • Find places where you can go to get warm, such as the home of friends and family whose homes have power.
  • Wear several layers of light weight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear hats, mittens, and blankets indoors.
  • Close curtains and cover windows and doors with blankets. Everyone should try to stay together in one room, with the door closed, to keep in body heat.

Prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide

  • If you don’t have electricity, only use a generator outdoors and far from open windows and vents.
  • NEVER use a generator indoors, in garages or carports
  • NEVER cook or heat indoors with a charcoal or gas grill 

Help Others

Q&A RSV, flu and COVID in King County: What should I know?

In the Fall and Winter months there is often a rise in respiratory viruses. This Fall (2022) there have been many RSV and flu cases requiring emergency room visits – especially for young children. Health clinics might also see more COVID cases and hospitalizations in the winter as people gather indoors and new COVID variants spread. These diseases can make young children, older adults, and other vulnerable people very sick, and overload hospitals and clinics.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that spreads every winter. Anyone can get RSV, but in 2022 we’re seeing a lot of cases in young children. For healthy adults and older children RSV can feel like a cold, with symptoms like runny nose, less appetite, coughing, and fever. But it can be a very serious illness for babies, older adults, and others.

The Seattle and King County Department of Public Health has put together an informative slide deck in eighteen languages. The deck Includes information about RSV, flu and COVID in King County, what to look for and how to prevent illness.

These slides can be shared in waiting rooms, at community centers, and in other places where people gather. Slides are available in the following languages:
• አማርኛ (Amharic)
• العربية (Arabic)
• 简体字 (Chinese – Simplified)
• 繁體字 (Chinese – Traditional)
• دری (Dari)
• English
• Français (French)
• 日本語 (Japanese)
• ភាសាខ្មែរ (Khmer)
• 한국어 (Korean)
• KajinM̧ajeļ (Marshallese)
• ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)
• Русский (Russian)
• Af Soomaali (Somali)
• Español (Spanish)
• Wikang Tagalog/Filipino (Tagalog/Filipino)
• ትግርኛ (Tigrinya)
• Українська (Ukrainian)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

How Does the American Health System Work

The American Health System is complicated. This fact sheet was produced to guide patients to where they can see a doctor. It describes the differences between a Primary Care Clinic, a Specialty Clinic, the Emergency Room, and In-Patient Care and when it is appropriate to use each service. The goal of this resource is to help improve health literacy for English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese speaking patients.

photo by Online Marketing (cc license)
Vaccine bottle and syringes

COVID-19 Vaccine Videos

Covid-19 Booster Shots

King County Public Health: Informative videos about Covid-19 booster and pediatric vaccine in 12 languages; All language playlist

Vaccine Videos

You Should Get a COVID-19 Vaccine … Here’s Why
21 one-minute plain language videos in multiple languages explaining why it is important to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Created by Georgia State University (Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, College of Education and Human Development, Adult Research Literacy Center).

Spanish language videos counter misinformation about vaccines for children. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s La Conversación series, which features health care providers answering questions about COVID-19 vaccines, is out with a new  5-minute video and multiple new FAQ videos in Spanish. 

Interpreter COVID-19 Vaccine PSA Videos
Harborview Medical Center interpreters share their experiences with his second vaccine dose and talks about community concerns and common side effects.

Preguntas frecuentes sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19
UW Medicine interviews Dr. Santigo Neme in Spanish about COVID-19 vaccine safety. 

UW Medicine Community Conversations: Straight Talk about COVID 19 Vaccines. This YouTube playlist includes UW Medicine’s vaccine Town Hall videos in English, Spanish, Oromo, Tagalog, Somali, Tigrigna, Mandarin and Amharic.

COVID-19 Video Updates from the Somali Health Board. Every week they post videos with COVID-19 updates and answer community member questions. They also are working to actively counter mis-information around the new vaccines.

The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) has a video page with a number of COVID-19 vaccine information videos translated into different languages. They also have two vaccine campaigns, Get the Facts and Get Vaccinated, that are translated into Spanish, and will soon be translated into more than 30 languages.

Iraqi/Arab Health Board Community Conversation videos discussing COVID vaccines can be viewed on the IAHB website.

The Iraqi/Arab Health Board held a live Facebook event with community members on February 14, 2021, answering frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Videos documenting a COVID-19 vaccination event at the Ethiopian Community of Seattle. Includes an Amharic interview with community members, and an interview with the Seattle Fire Department.

Are COVID-19 Vaccines Halal? Imam Mohamed Magid talked with then-U.S. Surgeon General about the COVID-19 vaccines to get answers on questions that matter most to Muslims families and communities.

Get your Covid-19 vaccine, do not hesitate! This video from the Iraqi Arab Health Board is in Arabic and encourages viewers to get their COVID-19 vaccination.

The New American Neighbors video outreach project has created a set of nine videos concerning COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy. The videos are in Amharic, Arabic, Dari, French, Nepali, Pashtu, Somali, Spanish, and Tigrinya. Videos in Burmese and Karen will be added soon.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Immigrant & Refugee Communities (Pashto Translation). This video was created by the Afghan Health Initiative and HealthPoint.

The Conversation
Black and Latinx health care workers answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines in this series on the Greater than COVID website. These FAQ videos are also available in Spanish.

From MN Department of Health

The Minnesota Department of health has created a COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit that includes videos about vaccine safety, translated into multiple languages (including Amharic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese). Scroll down to the “Vaccine Safety” section and click on the drop down menus under: 

  • Translated versions: How COVID-19 Vaccines Are Made
  • Other languages and transcripts: FAQs About the COVID-19 Vaccine

From WA Department of Health

COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Guide to Support Community-led Vaccination Efforts
English | Spanish

How COVID Vaccines Are Made
English | Spanish

How Would COVID Vaccines Work in Your Body
English | Spanish

Making Sense of Vaccines During COVID-19
English | Spanish

How to Spot Fact vs. Fiction Online
English | Spanish

Sscreenshot from FIT Instructional Video

FIT Instructional Videos

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, but it is preventable with screening. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is the most used stool test for colon cancer screening. These videos demonstrate how to properly use a FIT kit to collect a stool sample for colon cancer screening. They are available in Arabic, Cantonese, English, Khmer (Cambodian), Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
* It is recommended that adults begin screening for colon cancer age 45 (previously age 50).

A PDF document containing QR Codes that link directly to each video is provided in the sidebar.

Demonstration: Dr. Rachel Issaka
Videography: Dr. Carey Jackson
Arabic Interpreter: Joseph Tawadros
Cantonese & Vietnamese Interpreter: Lien T. La
Khmer Interpreter: Jeniffer Huong
Russian Interpreter: Oleg Gouts
Somali Interpreter: Mohamed Hashi
Spanish Interpreter: Araceli Gonzalez-Medel


Screenshot from Viral Swab Instructional Video

Viral Swab Instructional Videos

These instructional videos were created to help explain the viral swab procedure to patients presenting with coronavirus symptoms at Harborview Medical Center. The videos were created with interpreters and hospital staff who walk the patients through the nose-swab testing, and offer post-visit information. The videos are available in 7 languages: English interpreted into Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, Oromo, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Each video has an accompanying easy-to-scan QR code. If the patient wants to review the video once they are back home, they can scan the QR code which will automatically take them to the video on YouTube. QR code pdfs are available for download under each video, and are also found in the sidebar.

Download Amharic QR code PDF
Download Arabic QR code PDF
Download Cantonese QR code PDF
Download Oromo QR code PDF
Download Somali QR code PDF
Download Spanish QR code PDF
Download Vietnamese QR code PDF

Steering Wheel of Self-Management

In my role as a cultural mediator and diabetes navigator over the last five years, I have recognized the need for simple messaging of abstract concepts for patients from all socio-economic backgrounds in order to be meaningful. There are Western concepts that, as a system, we may take for granted. These include “chronic disease”, “prevention”, and “primary care”. In addition, we have a non-trivial number of illiterate and/or indigenous language speakers that also have low numeracy and a completely different concept of time and scheduled appointments.

The idea behind the “Steering Wheel of Self-Management” is to have a visual tool to be used by providers and patients alike. Providers/ educators can teach patients, patients can teach other patients.

Concept of Self

Perhaps the most basic concept I share with patients is the notion of SELF within the patient-centered care model in a clinical setting. Many of our patients come from countries or health systems that discourage patient participation, questions, or self-empowerment. They come to clinic for a “cure” or “fix” from an educated expert. Once they learn there is no “cure” for a chronic condition like diabetes, they may quickly lose interest or feel that it is not within their rights to express misgivings to a doctor. Hence, I developed the idea of the steering wheel as a central metaphor for illustrating control over one’s chronic disease, instead of being a passive recipient of it.

Prevention: Know how to avoid complications by managing YOUR own personal steering wheel according to YOUR life situations.

Concepts of Journey and Time

For many immigrants and refugees, the concept of a long journey or travel is a familiar one. This implies both distance and time in a way that our patients can more easily connect with.

  • Conceptual Message: TIME, something managed over time
  • Implicit message: Drive your diabetes so it doesn’t drive you

Chronic = continuous: Recognize that your highway and terrain will change over time. Learn to navigate the curves keeping both hands on the your steering wheel.

Steering Wheel Metaphor

Through trial and error during clinical visits and discussions in the lobby, I developed a series of images relating to the one central metaphor that seemed to easily illustrate chronic disease as a tangible concept. Originally I used a stock clip art wheel (later, we developed this original illustration, below) with three spokes to signify the three basic impacts on blood glucose: medication, food and exercise. The two hands on the steering wheel indicating patient empowerment.


  • Steering Wheel of Self-Management, the tool to keep a handle on things (your health).
  • Steering wheel has 3 spokes or points: Exercise, Food, Medicines, all three used in combination,
  • to keep on the road and not drive over the edge or off a cliff.
  • Emphasizing it is not just one thing.

Highway Metaphor

Then over time I began to deepen the metaphor to include the “highway of life” and its curves and roadblocks encountered that can affect diabetes management.

Highway is your diabetes or your health in general, there are many curves and stops on the highway.

Practical Uses

Practical uses of the steering wheel include a version with text and a pictorial-only version for patients with illiteracy or low literacy. The wheel can be printed out and notes written for patients identifying short term goals in the areas of exercise, nutrition and medication management, and for visualizing a care plan. The wheel image can be sent in mailer reminders, as motivator, to patients.

Steering Wheel with Words

Steering Wheel with Spanish words for Exercise, Food, Medicines, and “Driving (Managing) the Course of Your Diabetes”

Steering Wheel – Pictures only

Steering Wheel with images (no words) for Exercise, Food, Medicines

Patient Feedback

Patient feedback has been very positive both in clinic and in community health worker settings. Through the teach-back method, patients have demonstrated a strong grasp of the concept of chronic disease, despite education level. Patients have been able to individualize care plans and select small tangible goals to work on for behavior change.

Copyright

The Steering Wheel of Self-Management operates under the Creative Commons License Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States. You are free to copy, distribute, display this work under the following conditions:

  • Attribution: You must attribute the work to EthnoMed, and author Rose Cano.
  • Noncommercial: You may not use this work for commercial or for-profit purposes
  • Alterations: You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.