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.
One of the most important things to bear in mind as you design a handout is the message that is to be communicated. This has been touted as the most challenging tasks of the entire design process. The content of a handout is determined by many different factors. These include, for example, the type of diseases treated at the facility, the average age of patients and the gender among others.
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 that you use in your brochure should be appropriate for the level of education of the audience. If you are not sure, the safest thing to do is to go for the simplest. Use short and concise sentences that are devoid of convoluted explanations. Medical jargon needs to be avoided as much as possible and if it has to be included, the terms used should have accompanying explanations.
Include illustrations in the handout if possible. They will not only help in explaining some concepts better but also serve to break the monotony associated with reading. This is likely to enhance readability of your material. The two main types of illustrations that can be used are the informational and the filler illustrations. The former, as the name suggests, have an educational value while the latter are mainly used for breaking the monotony of reading.
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 handouts in educating patients is a practice that is likely to continue well into the future. While the use of hard copies appears to be reducing, that of soft copies is increasing. More creative designs such as incorporating the brochures into calendars and bookmarks has also contributed into increased adoption.
One of the most important things to bear in mind as you design a handout is the message that is to be communicated. This has been touted as the most challenging tasks of the entire design process. The content of a handout is determined by many different factors. These include, for example, the type of diseases treated at the facility, the average age of patients and the gender among others.
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 that you use in your brochure should be appropriate for the level of education of the audience. If you are not sure, the safest thing to do is to go for the simplest. Use short and concise sentences that are devoid of convoluted explanations. Medical jargon needs to be avoided as much as possible and if it has to be included, the terms used should have accompanying explanations.
Include illustrations in the handout if possible. They will not only help in explaining some concepts better but also serve to break the monotony associated with reading. This is likely to enhance readability of your material. The two main types of illustrations that can be used are the informational and the filler illustrations. The former, as the name suggests, have an educational value while the latter are mainly used for breaking the monotony of reading.
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 handouts in educating patients is a practice that is likely to continue well into the future. While the use of hard copies appears to be reducing, that of soft copies is increasing. More creative designs such as incorporating the brochures into calendars and bookmarks has also contributed into increased adoption.
About the Author:
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.
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