Features Of Reliable Patient Education Handouts

By Amanda Davis


Health centers have recently started creating awareness to the community on various diseases. People are however visiting hospitals since they do not find this information adequate. Patient education handouts can come in handy to provide guidance on various ailments. They are simple to read, and they offer advice on cure and prevention of diseases. The points mentioned below will assist in looking for a results oriented booklet.

Find a simple reading material. The booklet is supposed to be readable by all patients. It should contain words that can be easily absorbed be the reader. Sentences should be easy to understand. Complex ones tend to ruin the concentration of the user. Medical terms not be used much in the literature. They are confusing and getting the actual meaning is usually a challenge.

Valid booklets have must be designed in a logical manner. The size of the paper used must also be reasonable. It should be big enough to be read by the visually impaired. Sentences ought to be properly spaced. Words are supposed to be big enough and must be seen from a distance. The spacing assists in making sure that words are visible. Squeezed and tiny literature is discouraging, and most readers ignore it.

Illustrations must be included in an efficient booklet. They aid comprehension and make the reading process flawless. Those with poor reading skills can find ease in getting the required information through the drawings. Illustrations are easily remembered than text. They have to match the words used for clients to easily relate information. Without drawings, the educating material will be understood by a limited number of people.

Information in the booklet must be interlinked. One sentence should easily relate to the next. The desired knowledge will be gained with ease. When particulars are fragmented then connecting the wording will be challenging. A limited number of people will be able to get educated on health matters.

Patients ought to know when to seek urgent medical attention. A good booklet has to have details of severances of a certain disease. The characteristics an ailment are also clearly indicated. When a condition is severe and needs urgent medical attention features must be clear. Also the symptoms of a mild sickness should be indicated. These details will help patients in seeking medical help when necessary. They do not have to visit the hospital even with mild ailments.

The way of living of the community should be respected. Literature in the reading materials has should also be neutral. It should not look down upon any tribe. For example, it does not have to mention that a particular illness is common among a certain community. It will create a bias which will discourage readers from getting the desired information.

The titles captured in the handouts need to educate much with high visibility and clear to the point. The target market will first see the title before anything else. Therefore the heading can either encourage or discourage the reader. Headings and subheadings should, hence, be written using bright colors. The title must match the content for ease of reading.




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