Guideline for Writing Lay Summaries

A lay summary, also known as a plain-language summary, is a concise, non-technical explanation of complex research that makes findings accessible to a broad audience, including patients, policymakers, and the general public. While the value of these summaries is increasingly recognized by journals, funders, and regulators, there's often a lack of standardized, evidence-based guidance on how to write them effectively. This document presents a systematic review of the current literature and existing guidelines on lay summary development, synthesizing the best practices and providing a clear, practical guideline to help researchers and science communicators create high-quality, impactful summaries that maximize the reach and understanding of their work.