Proper communication is pivotal to the provision of healthcare. It has been shown through research that patients that have adequate information about their illnesses are more likely to comply with the treatments prescribed than those who do not. There are many options of communication including, electronic media, health talks, print media and patient education handouts among others. Each of these options is associated with various advantages and disadvantages.
When creating a handout, the most important consideration should be the message. This has been identified as the most challenging part of the entire exercise. The message is guided by the type of healthcare that is provided. If you are not a specialized facility, you may need to conduct research to establish the composition of your clients. The client segments may be reached with one handout or with several of them.
The format chosen will also determine, to a large extent, the readability of your brochure. A commonly used format is that of titles and subtitles. Titles address the main topic while subtitles deal with smaller issues under this topic. In the case of diabetes, for example, the topics may include causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and so on. Subtitles under treatment may include, drugs, physical exercise, diet modification and so on. Question and answer format is also popular.
The level of vocabulary used should be understood by the target audience. If you are dealing with a heterogeneous group whose level of education is greatly variable, the safest thing to do is to use the simplest vocabulary. Ensure that the sentences are concise and straight to the point. Medical jargon should be avoided as much as possible and if there is a need to include it, it should be accompanied by definitions.
Pictures are better than words in some situations. Have illustrations to help in explaining some of the concepts. Apart from enhancing understanding, illustrations also improve readability by reducing the monotony of written material. Broadly, they are of two types: informational and filler. The informational illustrations have an educational value while the fillers are meant to break monotony of reading. The fillers are not an absolute necessity.
The entire exercise may be outsourced if you feel that you are not up to the task. The agency will conduct research in the facility to find out the kind of clients that you are dealing with and what their needs are. They then proceed to design what they think will meet these needs in the best way possible. This frees you and you can continue with your normal routines uninterrupted. The main downside is that it makes the whole exercise quite expensive.
Brochures may serve as an effective advertising tool apart from being educational materials. They are commonly used to educate clients concerning the services being provided by the facility. If you are educating the clients on work related injuries, for instance, you may include ways in which these injuries are managed in your facility. The only prerequisite is that the space that is reserved for advertisement should not exceed 20% of the entire handout.
The use of educational handouts has been on the increase in recent times. There are a number of factors that has contributed to this. Among them is the increased use of softcopy brochures that are read on electronic devices. More creative designs (such as brochures acting as calendars or bookmarks) have also contributed.
When creating a handout, the most important consideration should be the message. This has been identified as the most challenging part of the entire exercise. The message is guided by the type of healthcare that is provided. If you are not a specialized facility, you may need to conduct research to establish the composition of your clients. The client segments may be reached with one handout or with several of them.
The format chosen will also determine, to a large extent, the readability of your brochure. A commonly used format is that of titles and subtitles. Titles address the main topic while subtitles deal with smaller issues under this topic. In the case of diabetes, for example, the topics may include causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and so on. Subtitles under treatment may include, drugs, physical exercise, diet modification and so on. Question and answer format is also popular.
The level of vocabulary used should be understood by the target audience. If you are dealing with a heterogeneous group whose level of education is greatly variable, the safest thing to do is to use the simplest vocabulary. Ensure that the sentences are concise and straight to the point. Medical jargon should be avoided as much as possible and if there is a need to include it, it should be accompanied by definitions.
Pictures are better than words in some situations. Have illustrations to help in explaining some of the concepts. Apart from enhancing understanding, illustrations also improve readability by reducing the monotony of written material. Broadly, they are of two types: informational and filler. The informational illustrations have an educational value while the fillers are meant to break monotony of reading. The fillers are not an absolute necessity.
The entire exercise may be outsourced if you feel that you are not up to the task. The agency will conduct research in the facility to find out the kind of clients that you are dealing with and what their needs are. They then proceed to design what they think will meet these needs in the best way possible. This frees you and you can continue with your normal routines uninterrupted. The main downside is that it makes the whole exercise quite expensive.
Brochures may serve as an effective advertising tool apart from being educational materials. They are commonly used to educate clients concerning the services being provided by the facility. If you are educating the clients on work related injuries, for instance, you may include ways in which these injuries are managed in your facility. The only prerequisite is that the space that is reserved for advertisement should not exceed 20% of the entire handout.
The use of educational handouts has been on the increase in recent times. There are a number of factors that has contributed to this. Among them is the increased use of softcopy brochures that are read on electronic devices. More creative designs (such as brochures acting as calendars or bookmarks) have also contributed.
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patient education handouts are now available on our official website. To learn more about these educational materials, go directly to this page http://www.vivacare.com.