patient education in challenging times
DESCRIPTION
Patient Education in Challenging Times. Invaluable to patients & families. Heather Ead RN, BScN, Clinical Educator Perioperative Services – West Toronto, Trillium Health Centre. Education – An Active Process. Education and learning are active processes Participative & interactive - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Patient Education in Challenging Times
Invaluable to patients & families
Heather Ead RN, BScN, Clinical Educator
Perioperative Services – West Toronto,
Trillium Health Centre
Education – An Active Process
Education and learning are active processes Participative & interactive Neglecting this principle creates obstacles We all have a role in education
Life Long Learning
Patient Education Professional Education
•Stay healthy•Manage disease/recovery•Prevent complications•How to recognize & respond to complications
oReview/recertificationoRemain currentoNew meds, treatments, procedures, equipmentoNew disease/virus
Education - Increasingly Important
Quality of life Better outcomes Growing prevalence of chronic illness Independence, empowerment Better prepared Reduced anxiety
Some common Myths
“the patients are too ill to learn” “showing a video or giving a pamphlet is
equivalent to health teaching” “I don’t have time to teach”
Is there Time?
Teaching on the go/multi-tasking Teachable moments Even just 5 minutes of health teaching can
make a difference
Providing Effective Education
Keep it simple Avoid confusing “health care” language Use additional resources Remember that anxiety is a barrier to
learning Repeat, repeat and then repeat
Confirming Understanding
Interactive approach; ask questions (open ended)
Relate education back to the individual Take turns; have the patient repeat back key
points for confirmation
Andragogy
Andragogy is the art and science of adult learning
Adults learners are:
1. Self directed
2. Task orientated
3. Experienced
Learning Styles
We learn more effectively when teaching matches our style
Ensure you use some methods that meet each of the 4 types
Learning Styles
Divergent Emphasis on feelings
Generate discussion
Assimilative Just the facts… mini- lectures
Convergent Hands on demonstration
Accommodative Problem solvers scenarios
I Forget….After 2 weeks we only remember….
10% What we have read
20% What we have heard
30% What we have seen
50% What we heard & saw
70% What we said
90% Said and did (hands on)
Educational Materials
12 font or larger NOT ALL CAPS! Proper use of white space Common language Bold only headings or for emphasis Illustrations to clarify/augment info
Low Literacy Skills
What percentage of North Americans have
low literacy skills?
a) 10%
b) 25%
c) 46%
d) 60%
46% is Significant
There is a link between low literacy and; Poor health Less access to health info Less able to follow Tx plans & instructions More likely to delay seeking Tx
Reading Level
Literacy = ability to read, write & interpret Decoding and processing information Computer programs can identify reading level Calculations “SMOG” More than 3 polysyllables , let it be
Body Language Counts
Our words account for ______% of a message.
a) 50%
b) 90%
c) 7%
Body Language Counts
Our words only account for 7% of the overall message
“paralanguage” influences the message too Tone & volume of voice Non-verbal behaviors We should be aware of these components in
our communication
In Summary
Use clear language Recap info/summarize Have patient repeat back Evaluate and clarify as needed
Put Down the Shovel
Education is not filling the pail, but lighting a fire (Yeats)
References
Belton & Simpson (2003). The How to of Patient Education
Herndon, Kornblith & Holland (2008). Patient education as predictor of survival in lung cancer clinical trials. J of Clinical Oncology
Haines et al. (2009). Patient education for neck pain. The Spine Journal
Koo, Krass & Aslani. (2006) Enhancing patient education about medication. Health Expectations.