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Literature Review
Patient Education
Patient Education
Following a cancer diagnosis at one of the nation's top cancer hospitals, patients were given basic treatment and hospital policy information through printed handouts, which were contained within a binder. These binders served as a critical aspect of helping patients receive and organize critical diagnosis and treatment information and worked to improve the patient's experience with their treatment and the hospital.
After years of implementation, an assessment of this current program was necessary to ensure this program was still relevant and aligned with industry standards and best practices. During a review of literature published within the last 5 years, the following key aspects of patient education materials were identified:
Patient education is beneficial.
Patient education is beneficial.
It's been shown to improve health literacy, treatment adherence, quality of life, reduce physical and mental distress at symptoms, reduce anxiety about treatment and procedures, increase patient knowledge, and increase shared decision making.
Patient education can be a broad term and include a lot of diverse information.
Patient education can be a broad term and include a lot of diverse information.
In the literature, it can reference disease and treatment information, decision making aids, pain management information and strategies, breathing and relaxation exercises, coping strategies, and resources for caregivers or parents.
Patient education is typically delivered by specific health care professionals.
Patient education is typically delivered by specific health care professionals.
The most common professionals delivering patient education are nurses, followed by physicians, then by health educators.
Delivery methods can vary and have been impacted by the development and increasing ability to access technology.
Delivery methods can vary and have been impacted by the development and increasing ability to access technology.
A variety of methods are now available to access informational materials, including: physical/written copies, online written, audio/visual, 3D animations, social media groups or posts, phone or tablet apps, educational support groups, and even virtual reality.
While some of these methods are currently less data driven, emerging technologies show a lot of promise to help patients and are a key area to investigate.
No single delivery method has been identified as the highest quality or as an industry standard.
No single delivery method has been identified as the highest quality or as an industry standard.
While no one delivery method has been identified as the best to use with all patients, data supports the use of multiple delivery methods, such as written text combined with audio/visual clips, and interactive question and answers with health care professionals.
Due to technology gaps and other patient differences, some patients or patient populations may have unique preferences. Understanding local demographics and needs can be beneficial for targeting local patients.
All materials that will be distributed to patients and caregivers should be evaluated by mainstream industry evaluation tools.
All materials that will be distributed to patients and caregivers should be evaluated by mainstream industry evaluation tools.
Tools for readability (FRES, FKGL, GFI, CLI, SMOG, ARI, and the CDC's Clear Communication Index), information quality (DISCERN, SAM), and combined understandability and actionability (PEMAT, heiQ) should be consulted to ensure that materials work for patients from a variety of backgrounds and abilities.
Follow-up Research
Follow-up Research
After this review, further research identifying specific stakeholder needs was conducted. Surveys were sent out to patients and caregivers to identify the most useful types of information included within these binders and to identify patient's preferred delivery methods.
Interviews and surveys were conducted with hospital providers to ensure solutions that would be practical and that staff would be willing to implement any new patient education programs or initiatives.
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