Patient education handouts have become part and parcel of modern day healthcare provision. They have helped greatly in communication between a healthcare facility and the clients. It should be remembered that it is the right of every patient to know about the services provided by a given institution. Due to the importance of these communication tools, you need to have some knowledge regarding how you can make and use them appropriately.
Two types of handouts exist. They include the commercially available ones that are pre-printed and those that are made locally at a facility. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with each of them. Commercially available materials are usually quite expensive and may not convey the message in the intended manner. They are, however, readily available and thus help save time that would be required to design them. Those designed at the facility convey the intended message more precisely. They are, however, labour intensive.
When developing the materials, one of the most important things to do is to develop objectives that will help guide the process. You need to know the intended goals from the beginning. For example, your aim may be to educate your patient on their condition and nothing else. Alternatively, it may be a way of ensuring that they are adherent to the prescribed treatments. Another common objective is to encourage the clients to modify their behaviours.
The type of design adopted will be determined by a number of factors. The design will be different for materials that are to be used for daily reference and those that are meant for single use. Some materials are designed in manner that allows for feedback or interaction with the reader. This may be achieved through writing down of responses, for example. If this is the case, adequate space should be created. An important aspect to have in mind also is the intended target. Is it the entire clientele or specific patients?
The writing style chosen must be appropriate for the targeted group. Do not use medical jargon as this may confuse your reader or may not be understood altogether. If you use a technical term, ensure that a definition of the same is included. The recommendation is that one should use the second person when addressing the client and not the third person. This is because when the former is used, the client finds it easier to relate to the message.
Long and complex sentences tend to lose the meaning intended and should, for this reason, be avoided. The maximum number of syllables in a word should be three except in the rare cases where appropriate synonyms cannot be found. Once you are satisfied with the content, select a few clients randomly and test the readability of your content. Any difficulties should be addressed at this stage.
The style and language used in the material is tailored based on education levels of the clientele. There may be need for research to determine these levels. If this can be successfully done, then the simplest language and styles should be chosen. Ensure that the content and the accuracy are up to date.
The use of patient education handouts carries with it numerous benefits. Not only does it help your clients learn about the disease they are struggling with but is also a very important tool used in preventive medicine. It is a tool that should be used by all health workers providing this essential service.
Two types of handouts exist. They include the commercially available ones that are pre-printed and those that are made locally at a facility. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with each of them. Commercially available materials are usually quite expensive and may not convey the message in the intended manner. They are, however, readily available and thus help save time that would be required to design them. Those designed at the facility convey the intended message more precisely. They are, however, labour intensive.
When developing the materials, one of the most important things to do is to develop objectives that will help guide the process. You need to know the intended goals from the beginning. For example, your aim may be to educate your patient on their condition and nothing else. Alternatively, it may be a way of ensuring that they are adherent to the prescribed treatments. Another common objective is to encourage the clients to modify their behaviours.
The type of design adopted will be determined by a number of factors. The design will be different for materials that are to be used for daily reference and those that are meant for single use. Some materials are designed in manner that allows for feedback or interaction with the reader. This may be achieved through writing down of responses, for example. If this is the case, adequate space should be created. An important aspect to have in mind also is the intended target. Is it the entire clientele or specific patients?
The writing style chosen must be appropriate for the targeted group. Do not use medical jargon as this may confuse your reader or may not be understood altogether. If you use a technical term, ensure that a definition of the same is included. The recommendation is that one should use the second person when addressing the client and not the third person. This is because when the former is used, the client finds it easier to relate to the message.
Long and complex sentences tend to lose the meaning intended and should, for this reason, be avoided. The maximum number of syllables in a word should be three except in the rare cases where appropriate synonyms cannot be found. Once you are satisfied with the content, select a few clients randomly and test the readability of your content. Any difficulties should be addressed at this stage.
The style and language used in the material is tailored based on education levels of the clientele. There may be need for research to determine these levels. If this can be successfully done, then the simplest language and styles should be chosen. Ensure that the content and the accuracy are up to date.
The use of patient education handouts carries with it numerous benefits. Not only does it help your clients learn about the disease they are struggling with but is also a very important tool used in preventive medicine. It is a tool that should be used by all health workers providing this essential service.
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