There has been significant improvement in the manner in which service in healthcare centres is delivered to clients. This improvement, according to experts, is attributable to a number of things. One of the contributing factors is increased completion among the service providers. The other major contributor is the enactment of various laws that require the provider to meet a number of obligations towards their client. Patient education handouts are a way of ensuring that the patient right to information is met.
There are several types of handouts available; commercially available pre-printed ones and those that are made from the facility. Each of these types has its various advantages and disadvantages. Commercially available materials have the advantage of being readily available and can be obtained from a number of outlets. The main advantages include the fact that they are a bit expensive and may not convey the message as clearly as is intended. Those made in the facility are a bit labour intensive but can be customised depending on local requirements.
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.
There are a number of factors that will determine the type of design that will be adopted. The type of design will be determined by whether it will only be required once or is meant for day-to-day reference. Figure out if you will want them to write down a few things (in which case you have to provide space for this) or you want them to read and get rid of it. The primary target must be clearly identified. This may be the entire clientele or persons with specific conditions.
An appropriate writing style should be chosen. In this regard there have a number of things that you need to have in mind. For instance, the use of medical jargon must be avoided at all costs. If any technical terms are used, then these should be clearly defined in simple terms. It is recommended that the active form of speech rather than the passive is used as this communicates directly to your reader. Use of the second person is also preferred to the third person when addressing the reader.
Complex and long sentences tend to confuse readers and so you should avoid them. Choose simpler short sentences that are straight to the point. Words containing more than three syllables need to be reduced or removed entirely. When you are satisfied with what you have created, choose a few sample clients randomly to determine the ease with which your material can be read.
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.
There are several types of handouts available; commercially available pre-printed ones and those that are made from the facility. Each of these types has its various advantages and disadvantages. Commercially available materials have the advantage of being readily available and can be obtained from a number of outlets. The main advantages include the fact that they are a bit expensive and may not convey the message as clearly as is intended. Those made in the facility are a bit labour intensive but can be customised depending on local requirements.
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.
There are a number of factors that will determine the type of design that will be adopted. The type of design will be determined by whether it will only be required once or is meant for day-to-day reference. Figure out if you will want them to write down a few things (in which case you have to provide space for this) or you want them to read and get rid of it. The primary target must be clearly identified. This may be the entire clientele or persons with specific conditions.
An appropriate writing style should be chosen. In this regard there have a number of things that you need to have in mind. For instance, the use of medical jargon must be avoided at all costs. If any technical terms are used, then these should be clearly defined in simple terms. It is recommended that the active form of speech rather than the passive is used as this communicates directly to your reader. Use of the second person is also preferred to the third person when addressing the reader.
Complex and long sentences tend to confuse readers and so you should avoid them. Choose simpler short sentences that are straight to the point. Words containing more than three syllables need to be reduced or removed entirely. When you are satisfied with what you have created, choose a few sample clients randomly to determine the ease with which your material can be read.
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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If you would like to have professional and well designed patient education handouts, click this link to Viva Care (www.vivacare.com). To see examples of our work, visit us online now at http://www.vivacare.com.
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