Merits Of Using Patient Education Handouts In Instruction

By Matthew Thomas


Medical professionals need to be proactive in getting the relevant information to patients concerning promotion of health and prevention of diseases. It is not a time to leave them in the dark on matters which can cause death. There are various ways through which this can be done. Using patient education handouts is a sure way.

You can go into details through the written word when it comes to explaining. You ought to know what to consider in choosing the mode of message delivery. Slides are presentable but not ideal for a lot of information unless you want to make a lot of them.

You have the opportunity to better explain technical and complicated matters through typing them. Also, there is the choice to bold the key points and even use color highlights to set them apart. At the end, you can include information on references and case studies which are relevant to the details. Also, any collateral materials and literature in marketing your work and even contact information can be noted.

Patients will not go out of their way to review research journals in the medical field or even read the big books on medicine. Therefore, you need to find a way to deliver the message in these books to them in a simple way. Through handouts, you can present the key issues in a summary form. In addition, you have to think about the best time to give them the handouts depending on what you are teaching. Ensure they have the copies before the class starts if there are things you cannot explain to them blindly.

You should not be reluctant on professionalism just because you have the option to type the details. Use font size which does not strain the eyes to read. Also, use black ink on white background unless you are working under special circumstances. Varying your presentation styles is important.

You should be careful not to go overboard with the styling. Do not include so many designs and colors to make the materials look absurd. Just include what is required. You can check with other professionals on what is acceptable. Some can even help you with standard templates for this purpose.

You need to make sure the people you will be educating can read and understand the information you want to pass across. Do not go on with the production process if they will be of no use to the patients. In addition, moderate the language to suit the average person who does not have a lot of information on medicine.

You need to get the number of the attendees before you make the copies. Make sure everyone has his or her own handout. It will be easier to follow through the discussion. Also, it can be taken home for further reading. You need to produce more copies than the number you have because more patients can come in. Breaking the session to photocopy the copies will be time wastage. In addition, be well prepared for the discussion. It will be successful if your explanations are to the point and informative.




About the Author: