Background: Educating the patient with patient information leaflets is helpful to increase understanding and awareness about chronic kidney disease. Various educational materials are available ...online, but their quality is mixed. The content was found to be unreliable or incomprehensible. Objective: The study aimed to develop, validate, test the readability, translation, and design of the patient information leaflet and focused on assessing patients’ knowledge levels using questionnaires after providing the validated patient information leaflet. Methods: A prospective study was conducted among chronic kidney disease patients who were not on dialysis. The patient information leaflet was prepared based on experts’ opinions and a thorough review of various resources. Experts validated the content of the patient information leaflet through the content validity index. After being validated, the Baker Able leaflet design scale was used to evaluate the layout and design. Knowledge assessment questions were validated using item-content validity index scores to assess patient knowledge before and after providing the patient information leaflet. Results: A total of 60 randomly selected chronic kidney disease patients were enrolled. The content validity index of the patient information leaflet was found to be 0.9. The Baker Able leaflet design score was found to be 25. Knowledge was assessed and it showed that score had increased from 42 ± 6.95 to 73.5 ± 6.70, respectively, with a P-value <0.000. Conclusion: This study concluded that the patient information leaflet was developed based on standard procedures. Significant improvement was seen in patients’ knowledge after utilizing a validated patient information leaflet.
(1) Background: Fact boxes present the benefits and harms of medical interventions in the form of tables. Some studies suggest that people with a lower level of education could profit more from ...graphic presentations. The objective of the study was to compare three different formats in fact boxes with regard to verbatim and gist knowledge in general and according to the educational background. (2) Methods: In May 2020, recruitment started for this randomized controlled trial. Participants were given one out of three presentation formats: natural frequencies, percentages, and graphic. We used Limesurvey
to assess comprehension/risk perception as the primary outcome. The Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used in addition to descriptive analyses. (3) Results: A total of 227 people took part in the study. Results of the groups were nearly identical in relation to the primary outcome verbatim knowledge, likewise in gist knowledge. However, participants with lower educational qualifications differed from participants with higher educational qualifications in terms of verbatim knowledge in the group percentages. (4) Conclusions: The results indicate that all three forms of presentation are suitable for conveying the content. Further research should take the individual preferences regarding the format into account.
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare, hereditary disease with a hypermetabolic response to volatile anesthetics/succinylcholine. Susceptible patients face difficulties due to a lack of knowledge ...about MH. As informational materials could increase knowledge and adherence to prevention/therapy, digital information about rare diseases validated for patients is needed. Our objective was to evaluate the following: (1) the impact of digital manuals on the knowledge/quality of life of MH patients and (2) access to MH services. Fifty MH-susceptible patients filled out a virtual questionnaire twice (demographic/economic/clinical data, MH knowledge and impact on daily life, and SF-36 quality of life). Test groups 1 (n = 17) and 2 (n = 16) were evaluated 30 and 180 days after receiving a digital manual, and the control group (n = 17; without manual) was evaluated after 180 days. We collected the MH service data about the number of contacts. Twenty-four (48%) patients reported problems in personal/professional life, sports, clinical/surgical/dental treatments, and military service, in addition to concerns about emergency care and complaints of sequelae. The percentage of correct answers in the second MH knowledge questionnaire increased for test group 2 (62% vs. 74.1%; unpaired t test, p < 0.01), was significantly greater in test groups 1 (68.1%) and 2 (74.1%) than in the control group (56.5%; Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.05), and correlated with more time studying the manual and reports of MH-related problems (multiple regression, p < 0.05). The digital manual improved patients' MH knowledge. Online contacts with the MH service increased, allowing greater information dissemination. As informational materials could increase knowledge/adherence to prevention/therapy, digital information about MH validated for patients should be implemented.
This article describes a qualitative and quantitative approach to the development and iterative revision process of producing valid, user-friendly pictorial patient education handouts (infographics) ...on tracheostomy care. An iterative user-centered design with health professional, patient, and family caregiver panels was used. The authors first developed a new evaluation tool for pictorial education handouts, the Perceived Infographics Usability Measurement (PIUM). The patient education handout, consisting of three A3-size posters with illustrations on key steps of daily tracheostomy care, reached a high consensus among health professional experts (88.3%) and patients and family caregivers (89.1%) on PIUM usability indexes. Patients and family caregivers expressed that the patient education handout would be an understandable teaching tool and procedure reminder, which would help alleviate fears about tracheostomy care. The PIUM demonstrated satisfactory content validity and reliability properties and was a quality tool to guide the transformation of text-based content to a pictorial patient education handout.
Abstract As health professionals and patients are moving toward shared models of decision making, there is a growing need for integrated decision support tools that facilitate uptake of best evidence ...in routine clinical practice in a patient-centered manner. This article charts the landscape of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and patient decision aids. Decision support tools for medical practice can be mapped on two dimensions. (1) The target user and his or her level of decision making; either for groups of patients or for an individual patient and (2) the level of uncertainty: either supporting more directive decision making (behavior support) in the case of strong recommendations with a single best option or supporting dialog (deliberation support) on the pros and cons of different options in the case of conditional (or weak) recommendations. We conclude that it is important to establish closer links between CPGs and patient decision aids, through collaborative development of both. Such collaboration will encourage the design of decision support tools for professionals and patients who share the same evidence and the aim to increase the quality of decision making between doctor and patient. This could facilitate the implementation of CPGs and shared decision making in clinical practice.
Background/Aims: Patients who undergo endoscopic biopsy suffer anxiety until results are confirmed. This study assesses the effects of written educational material on the anxiety level of patients ...following endoscopic biopsy. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled study trial with 83 patients divided into the following three groups: a biopsy group given written educational material prepared by our institution following the biopsy (intervention group, n=28), a biopsy group without written material (biopsy only group, n=25), and a control group without biopsy (control group, n=30). The anxiety level of each patient was evaluated three times using Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): for baseline at the first visit to our institution, at the day of endoscopy, one day later, and one week after the procedure. We compared baseline characteristics, STAI scores at each visit, and differences in STAI scores among the three groups. Results: No difference was found in STAI score among groups at baseline and before and after the endoscopic procedure. However, the STAI-state score of the intervention group was slightly lower than biopsy only group one day post-procedure (40.3±7.7 vs. 43.9±7.1, p=0.135). The STAI-state score significantly decreased from pre- to post-procedure only in the intervention group (-2.75±6.1 vs. 0.92±4.0, p＜0.027). Conclusions: Use of written educational material for patients having biopsy might lessen their anxiety level.
If purposefully designed, patient information can help individuals make well-founded health care decisions. This study was initiated to improve the information on whiplash injuries found in the ...national health care portal Healthcare Guide 1177, operated by the Swedish government.
The objective of this study was to describe the thoughts of patients and relatives on (1) information about whiplash injuries presented in the portal and (2) the Swedish health care system's management of whiplash injuries.
A total of 5 interviews were conducted with patients (n=10) who had experienced a whiplash injury and with relatives (n=3) of such patients. The interviews were taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by means of conventional content analysis.
The following two themes emerged from the latent content analysis: (1) confidence and trust in the public health care system and (2) a disappointment with health care encounters.
We found that most of the study participants felt distress due to insufficient information; respondents perceived a discrepancy between the public health care system's authority and the information provided. The Web information on whiplash injuries may greatly impact patients' care decisions as well as their physical, mental, and social well-being. We would recommend detailed patient information on whiplash injuries, with less emphasis on psychology and more data on pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment.
Introduction
To improve comprehension of medical care, the Joint Commission recommends that patient education materials (PEMS) be written at a fifth‐grade reading level or below.
Objectives
The ...purpose of this study was to evaluate the compliance of commonly used tertiary drug references to Joint Commission standards.
Methods
PEMs for the top 100 most prescribed medications in 2017 were obtained from commonly used drug information tertiary references (Lexi‐comp patient drug information, Micromedex Care Notes, Micromedex Med Essential Fact Sheets, Medline Plus, and Drugs.com) to evaluate readability. The grade reading level of each medication‐related PEM was evaluated using the Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level test and compared with a one‐way analysis of variance using correlated samples and Tukey's post‐hoc test for significance between groups.
Results
The mean grade reading levels of Lexi‐comp, Micromedex Care Notes, Micromedex Med Essential Fact Sheets, Medline Plus, and Drugs.com were 4.2, 7.5, 7.8, 9.3, and 10.4, respectively. Lexi‐comp achieved a reading level at or below fifth grade for 99% of medications while Micromedex Med Essential Fact sheets was the next highest at 33%. No other reference contained drug information at or below a fifth‐grade reading level.
Conclusion
Lexi‐comp patient drug information consistently met the Joint Commission recommendation for medical information at or below a fifth‐grade reading level, whereas Micromedex Med Essential Fact Sheets met this recommendation approximately one‐third of the time. When providing drug information resources to patients, health‐care providers should be diligent in selecting sources that meet the Joint Commission recommendations.
Purpose
Engaging patients in the process of deprescribing is a necessity. Several patient education materials have been developed for this purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability ...of the existing patient education materials for proton-pump inhibitors deprescribing.
Methods
We conducted a targeted inventory of the available materials on scientific literature and known repositories. We evaluated their suitability with the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) instrument. Materials were rated independently by two researchers and then discussed until consensus was reached.
Results
Seven patient education materials were identified. Three materials (42.9%) were deemed “superior” and 4 (57.1%) were deemed “adequate”. Ratings were generally good in the categories of content, learning stimulation, motivation, typography and layout. The major weaknesses included the use of inappropriate graphics and the too demanding required reading grade level. These may decrease patient attention and comprehension and therefore the effectiveness of education materials.
Conclusions
Suitability of the patient education materials on proton-pump inhibitors deprescribing is overall satisfactory. Greater attention on readability, graphics and inclusion of summaries will be needed for development of future materials.
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