incorporating health literacy design in patient education: a brief case for the efficacy of...

Incorporating Health Literacy Design in Patient Education: A Brief Case for

the Efficacy of Education and How to Effectively Evaluate Education

Agenda

• Brief review on the Research

• Evaluating Patient Education Content – SAM

• Format/Delivery Options

• Discussion

Patient Education Rationale

• Demonstrated impact on key outcomes• Cost containment strategy• Regulatory pressure – NCQA, Joint

Commission• Healthcare Consumerism

– Members Demand it– Competition– Patient Satisfaction Scoring

• Literacy demographics• Patient Safety

Patient Education Print Verbal Multimedia Combination

Patient Education Print Verbal Multimedia Combination

Behavior Changes Health services utilization Compliance Lifestyle Self-care

Behavior Changes Health services utilization Compliance Lifestyle Self-care

Costs Length of stay Utilization Litigation Provider image Regulatory compliance

Costs Length of stay Utilization Litigation Provider image Regulatory compliance

Health Status Physical health Well-being Symptoms Complications

Health Status Physical health Well-being Symptoms Complications

Patient Education Rationale

Model of Patient Education Outcomes

Knowledge and Attitude Changes Increased understanding Increased confidence Increased satisfaction Improved emotional state

Knowledge and Attitude Changes Increased understanding Increased confidence Increased satisfaction Improved emotional state

Patient Education Rationale

• Enhance quality brand• Support IT Investments• Patient Satisfaction• Compliance with accreditation

standards• ROI – The Holy Grail or the

Impossible Dream

Other Benefits

Patient Education Outcomes

• Black-and-white versus color

• Booklet versus brochure

• Text versus text with illustrations

• Media comparisons — telephone, print, computer, video

Studies Rarely Compare Elements or Types of Educational Materials

Patient Education Outcomes

• 101 patients discharged from ER with lacerations

• Written follow-up care with or without graphics• Significant comprehension improvement

overall; greater improvement with illustrations• Illustrations improved comprehension an

average of 50% in general and 100% in nonwhites

Text versus Text with Illustrations

Patient Education Outcomes

• Selected HF Patients at Mayo Clinic mailed workbook with letter.

• 81% increased knowledge

• 72% increased confidence

• 61% reported behavior change

• Education sent via mail represents a minimal, cost-limited intervention that provides a behavioral prompt for ongoing disease self-management

Increased KnowledgeVickers, Kristin S. Vickers PhD., et al. Randomized Controlled Trail Assessing the Impact of “Living Well with Heart Failure” Toolkit on Patient Attitude and Health Behaviors. Presented 2009 American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Conference.

Patient Education Research

Increased satisfaction

Lo, Struenkel, Rodiguez, The Impact of Diagnosis-Specific Discharge Instructions on Patient Satisfaction Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing Vol 24, No 3 (June) 2009; pp 156-162.).

• Literature review indicated clear education would improve patient/provider communication resulting in improved patient satisfaction scores.

• Pre-/post- Krames On-Demand Implementation study conducted in Endoscopy Unit, Main Surgery Unit, and Ambulatory Unit

Diagnosis specific Discharge Instructions improve Patient Satisfaction scores for eight of nine measures.

Patient Education Research

Increased satisfactionGeorge CF, Waters WE & Nicholas JA (1983). Prescription information leaflets: A pilot study in general practice. Brit med J, 287,1193–96.

•Recipients of information were more likely to be completely satisfied with treatment and with information given to them.

•Recipients of information were more likely to know the name of their medications and potential side effects.

•Informed patients were no different in reporting side effects.

•68% of the leaflet group were completely satisfied with their treatment compared to only 55% of the non-leaflet group.

Findings dispel concern that information will lead to complaints.

Patient Education Research

Increased satisfaction

Gibbs S, Waters WE, & George CF (1990). Communicating information to patients about medicine. The Royal Society of Medicine.

• Brochure recipients knew more about their medications and side effects,and were more satisfied than nonrecipients.

• Patients of both sexes; all age groups, and all social classes benefited from the leaflets.

Information can have an impact on a diverse audience.

Patient Education Research

Improved AffectLaine L, Shuman RJ, Bartholomew K, Gardner P, Reed T, & Cole S (1989). An educational booklet diminishes anxiety in parents whose children receive total perinatal nutrition. Am J Diseases in Children. 143, 374–77.

• No-booklet patients experienced less comfort in caring for their children and less knowledge about nutritional treatment.

• Written information decreased anxiety and increased satisfaction with patient care more successfully than verbal communication.

• Booklet group was 22% more comfortable with the treatment and 10% less anxious.

Information can have an important impact on mental health.

Patient Education Research

Health Behavior ChangeRoland M, & Dixon M (1989). Randomized controlled trial of an educational booklet for patients presenting with back pain in General practice. J Royal Col of Gen Practitioners, 39, 244–46.

• Booklet group showed reduced office visits for back pain, physical therapy referral, hospital admissions, laminectomies.

• One year later, 94% said they read the booklet, 84% found it useful, 68% still had a copy.

• Knowledge test scores significantly higher in booklet group.

• 15% fewer office visits in the experimental group.

Cost-effective program for common, expensive problem.

Patient Education Research

Health Behavior Change

Taylor, et al. Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention in Modifying Parental Attitudes about Antibiotic Usage in Children. Pediatrics. May 2003 v 111 i5 p 1099.

• Simple patient education intervention about to improve attitudes concerning use of antibiotics.

• Focus on Childhood conditions.

Educated parents modified attitude and understood the value in judicious use of antibiotics after receiving patient education intervention

Patient Education Research

Health Behavior Change

Frederikson LG, & Bull PE (1995). Evaluation of patient education leaflet designed to improve communication in medical consultations. Patient Ed and Counseling, 25, 51–57.

• Materials on patient-doctor communication.

• Patients reading the leaflets increased knowledge and improved communication skills.

• Doctors rated 57% of control patient interactions good versus 80% of experimental group.

• 15% fewer office visits in the experimental group.

Educated patients have more positive doctor-patient interaction.

Patient Education Research

Improved Health Status

Wallace LM, (1986). Communication variables in the design of pre-surgical preparatory information. Brit J Clin Psych, 25, 111–18.

• Experimental group had greater knowledge and fewer worries about surgery.

• Placebo group had more misconceptions than experimental or control groups did.

• Analyses showed that patients who have more knowledge about surgery have fewer worries and recover faster.

Patients who had more knowledge also recovered faster.

Patient Education Outcomes

• Intervention: series of four mailings– 3 weeks postdischarge: knowledge of self-

management– 6 weeks: meal planning, shopping & cooking skills– 9 weeks: making lifestyle change & depression– 12 weeks: CHF video plus brochures on wellness,

stress, and medication use• Extremely positive ROI

– 51% reduction in readmissions– Hospital savings = $8/$1– Health plan savings = $19/$1

Health Behavior ChangeSerxner S, et al (1998). Congestive Heart Failure Disease Management Study: A Patient Education Intervention. CHF, May/June 23–28.

Patient Education Outcomes

• 3 Groups:– A. Received brochure and individual session with nurse– B. Received brochure only– C. Received brochure and phone call

• Results– Group A – 4.39% cancellations, 8.6% lower costs– Group B – 26.31% cancellations, 8.9% lower costs– Group C – 15.38% cancellations, 5.5% lower costs

• Conclusions: Pre-endoscopy education improved compliance resulting in:– Reduced Need for Repeat Examination and their attendant

costs

Better Prepared Patients & Reduced Costs

Abuksis G., et al, A Patient Education Program is cost-effective for preventing failure of endoscopic procedures in gastroenterology department. American Journal of Gastroenterology. Volume 96 Issue 6 page 1786 – June 2006.

Patient Education Outcomes

• Test group in ER received counseling on how to take medications along with patient education on diagonsis.

• Test group was 30 percent less likely to be readmitted or visit the emergency department than patients who lack this information

• Total costs (a combination of actual hospitalization costs and estimated outpatient costs) were an average of $412 lower for the patients who received complete information than for those who did not.

Patient Education Reduces Costs

Jack, Brian W, MD., et al, A Reengineered Hospital Discharge Program to Decrease Rehospitalization, A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. Volume 150 Issue 3 pages 178-187, Feb 2009.

Patient Education Research

Consistently Reported Benefits

• Increased satisfaction

• Improved comprehension and recall

• Relieved stress and anxiety

• Behavioral impacts on drug and treatment, compliance, and self-care

Evaluating Education Materials

Importance of Health Literacy• IOM Report – Health Literacy: A Prescription to

End Confusion– 90 Million Americans have trouble understanding

health Information– 50% US Adults

• Joint Commission Report – 2007 – “What Did the Doctor Say?” Improving Health Literacy to Protect Patient Safety– Low Health Literacy/Miscommunication increases risk

for preventable adverse events.

Evaluating Education Materials

• It’s more than Reading Level• Critical elements to consider

– Attraction– Comprehension

• Short Term Memory only recalls 7 items• Memory favors visuals

– Self-Efficacy– Cultural Acceptability– Persuasion

• Motivating Behavior Change

Evaluation of Education Materials

• Content• Literacy Demand• Graphics• Layout and typography• Stimulus to learn/motivation• Cultural appropriateness

Suitability Assessment of Material (SAM)by Doak, Doak, & Root

Evaluation of Education Materials

• Purpose evident• Content on behaviors• Scope limited• Summary/review

Content

Purpose is evident and scope is limited.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Evaluation of Education Materials

• Reading level• Active voice• Common words• Context placement• Learning aids/sign

Literacy Demand

Active voice and common words are used for ease of comprehension.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Evaluation of Patient Materials

• Cover shows purpose (booklets)• Style of graphics • Visuals carry content• Captions match visual content

Graphics

Cover shows purpose.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Medical art is simplified to tell a story.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Evaluation of Education Materials

• Page design• Type styles• Content chunking

Layout and Typography

Information is broken into easy-to-read chunks.

Visuals carry content.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Type size is appropriate for audience.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Evaluation of Education Materials

• Interactive• Behaviors modeled• Specific and relevant behaviors• Self-efficacy

Stimulus to learn/Motivation

Specific and relevant behaviors are modeled.

Increase Self-Efficacy

Evaluation of Education Materials

Interactive elements involve the reader.

Evaluation of Education Materials

Evaluation of Education Materials

• Logic, language, and experience match• Cultural images• Cultural examples

Cultural Appropriateness

Images reflect targeted cultures and match experience

Evaluation of Education Materials

Summary

• Patient Education has positive impact on health and behavioral outcomes

• Literacy is key to educational effectiveness

• Materials need to be suited to the audience

• Evaluation on “ suitability ” not reading–level

Evaluating Modalities/Delivery

• Print– Booklets– Brochures– Tear Sheets– Posters

• Audio• Video• Online and What does that mean

– Understand – it is expected – how we communicate today

You Probably Need a Mix.

Electronic Solutions

• Embrace an Universal Solution– Case Manager Access/Distribution tools

• Print On-Demand• Video• Information Therapy

– Online– Offline

– Member Direct Access• Websites/Portals• PHRs• E-Mail pre/post clinical intervention

– After Visit Summary with Providers– Pre-op/post-op

Summary

• Research supports the efficacy and importance of patient education. It works.

• When evaluating content – go beyond reading-level and consider Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM).

• When choosing delivery formats remember– Corporate Strategic Objectives– Expectations of Members– Need to tie into Electronic Systems

Electronic Solutions

• Bring in IT early• Achieve a basic understanding of your IT 3-5 year plan.

– Systems/Upgrade Plans– IT Philosophy – Best of Class v. Single Source

• How Does Patient Education fits in to IT plan– Stand-alone or integrated

• Integration – Interoperable or Baked In

– Documentation requirements– Purse-Strings

Selling Your Solution Internally

• Positioning Solution to fit in with strategic plan.

• Create the business case for your solution.– ROI Calculators– Tailored Presentations– Proper Utilization/Patient Driven/Patient

Satisfaction/Outcomes considerations

• Leverage Your Vendors as much as possible.

Delivering Patient Education

• Checklist– Do solutions meet patient care objectives?– Do solutions meet facility’s strategic

imperatives? Do I have buy in?– Do solutions meet patient

expectations/demands?– Do we have an 360 degree solution?– The world is moving to e-solutions, are we?– Do solutions align with corporate goals?– Have I made a compelling case for my

solutions?