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.