Preparing and serving a meal: A metaphor for allied health reports
My research on allied health report-writing has focused on understanding the experiences of the readers and the writers of reports written for and about people with lifelong communication disability. I’m doing this to find ways for reports to be easier to read and understand, and possibly easier to write too. Writing reports is a core part of allied health practice. It’s also a skill that takes time, reflection, and feedback to learn.
While working on this research, I’ve found metaphor to be a helpful tool in understanding the results: writing an allied health report is like preparing and serving a meal.
The dish: The allied health report
Think of a dish on a restaurant menu. It has a name and a list of ingredients. The name gives you a sense of what to expect, and the ingredients offer more detail.
In the same way, an allied health report has a purpose (the name of the dish) and information (the ingredients). When the purpose is clear, readers know what to expect. And just like a dish that contains ingredients that match its name, a report should include information that aligns with its purpose.
The chef: The allied health professional
The chef is responsible for preparing the dish. They might be highly trained or still learning the ropes. Either way, they need to understand the recipe, select the right ingredients, and present the dish in a way that satisfies the diner.
Similarly, allied health professionals need to know how to write reports that are purposeful, informative, and readable. And just like chefs, they benefit from ongoing learning and feedback to improve their skills.
The diner: The reader of the report
Diners bring their own expectations, preferences, and experiences to the table. Their enjoyment of a dish can be influenced by how hungry they are, how the food looks, and whether they’re dining alone or with others.
Readers of allied health reports are similar. They bring their own backgrounds, motivations, and emotional responses. For people with lifelong communication disability, reading a report about themselves can be deeply personal, and sometimes they’re not invited to the table.
Plating up: Presenting the information
Presentation matters. A well plated dish can enhance the dining experience, while a messy one might be unpleasant or off-putting.
In report-writing, presentation refers to how information is presented through the structure and language. Clear, accessible formatting can improve reader motivation, and plain language supports reader understanding so that a report is more useful to the reader.
Leave a review: Feedback from readers
After a meal, diners might leave a review to share what they liked, what could be improved, and whether they’d come back.
Readers of allied health reports also have feedback. My research will highlight the importance of listening to the feedback of readers and use it to improve reports.
Why this metaphor matters for allied health professionals
I hope that this metaphor of preparing and serving a meal helps allied health professionals to step back and reflect on their report-writing process in a practical way.
This metaphor can be a prompt allied health professions to consider some aspects of report-writing:
- Clarify the purpose: Just like the name of a dish sets expectations, defining the purpose of a report helps guide what information to include and how to present it.
- Understanding reader experience and needs: Readers bring their own context, emotions, and needs especially when the report is about them encourages more thoughtful, inclusive writing.
- Consider presentation: The way information is “plated up” can affect how well it’s understood. Formatting, structure, and tone all matter.
- Value feedback: Allied health professionals learn by listening to feedback from report readers, including people with communication disability. It can be difficult to get feedback from readers for a number of reasons, but it’s worth finding ways to make this happen.
Let me know your thoughts on this?
Acknowledgement: Written with some AI support
About The Author
Harmony Turnbull
I’m a speech language pathologist with over 15 years experience working with people with lifelong disability. I now work in the Department of Education, Tasmania and I am a PhD candidate at The University of Technology Sydney (UTS). You can find me on Twitter sharing and learning with the handle @SP_Harmony and LinkedIn.