1. Chapter 55: Patient Education
Professor Fowler
2nd Edition

2. Introduction
One of the patient’s rights is to receive instruction on how they can manage their own health needs

3. Patient Education
MA must be prepared to educate the patient on behavior that might improve the patient’s health, prepare the patient for a procedure, improve patient compliance on therapy or medication or educate the patient about their own health behaviors
Assessment: evaluation of the patient’s needs
Plan: determine how to begin the task of teaching
Implementing: actually teaching the patient what to do
(put into action)
Document: chart the teaching in medical record to
ensure continuity of care
Evaluation: ask patient how the plan is going

4. How Adults Learn Procedures 55-1 and 55-2 (brochure projects)
Learning outcomes: goals of patient education – what the patient will achieve as result of teaching
Adults prefer group settings
Learning new material is facilitated
when reinforced by known material
Motivational incentives

5. Teaching Methods and Strategies – Roadblocks to Learning
Ordering, commanding and directing the patient to learn
Warning or threatening
Moralizing or preaching (“should do”)
Judging
Criticizing
Name calling, stereotyping, labeling
Sarcasm
Anxiety
Culturally inappropriate treatment plans
Speaking loudly to a blind person
Age-inappropriate speech

6. Teaching Methods and Strategies
Remember their cultural influences as well
Use of personal space
Teaching the Older Adult
Distances maintained
Dexterity: ability to use hands effectively
Facial expressions
Explore past experiences
Body movements
Slowed process time
Gestures
Decreased short-term memory
Expressions
Decreased dexterity
Learning Readiness
Increased anxiety about new situations
Table 55-1 pages Patient Teaching Methods*
Box 55-1 page 1271 Tips for clear writing
Guidelines Effective Health Instruction
Teaching Children
Teaching materials tailored to them (coloring books, stickers for reward, treatment on doll, touching equipment to be used for procedure, videos)
Procedure 55-3 Instructing Patients According to their Needs for Health Maintenance and Promotion
(post-op project)
Teaching Patients with Disabilities and Special Needs
Adapted to each patient

7. Developing a Teaching Plan Patient Issues
An effective teaching plan for both adult and child must include desired outcomes
Patient Issues
Box 55-2 page 1274 Sample Teaching Plan for HTN
Some issues can make educating patients challenging
Skills and abilities
Learning Environment
Culture
Well-lit room
Finances
Privacy
Health beliefs
Equipment available to show
Medication errors
Noncompliance
Teaching Resources
Can be DVD, CD, videos pamphlets
Patient Skills and Abilities
Table 55-2 page 1276 Reputable Websites for Patient Education

8. Culture and Patient Education Handling Non-Compliance
Age
Handling Non-Compliance
Gender
Noncompliance: not following physician orders
Little control over health or great deal of control
Lack of compliance may be due to failure to take medication as ordered, failure to return for follow-up appts, failure to practice dietary changes and failure to follow an exercise program
Family
Religious beliefs
Impact of Finances on Patient Education
One of the best methods for encouraging patient compliance is to convey the knowledge they need to make educated decisions about their health care
Preventive Medicine
Table 55-3 page 1276 Common Risk Factors Exhibited by Patients
They must want to comply
Preventing Medication Errors
Medication errors are the fifth leading cause of death in the US

9. Health and Wellness Teaching the Patient Mind-Body Connection
Wellness: ongoing process of practicing a healthy lifestyle
Teaching about Pain
Acute pain: short term intense pain
Role modeling is important
Chronic pain: long term, aching pain
Table 55-5 page 1278 wellness guidelines
Effects: anger, helplessness, sadness, depression, decreased activity, decreased sleep, increased irritability, fatigue, chemical and/or medication dependency, mood swings, lowered self-esteem, and impaired ability to handle stress
Mind-Body Connection
Refers to the fact that the way a patient thinks and feels affects the body’s wellness
Pain scale
Pain faces
Endorphins release when happy which have analgesic properties, benefit physical functioning and boost immunity
Teaching about Nutrition and Weight Loss
Teaching About Exercise
Negative feelings (fear, anger grieving) can increase heart rate, tighten muscles and a fight-or-flight response
Teaching Stress Reduction
Teaching about Smoking and Substance Abuse
Teaching about Cast Care
Applying a cast
Home care for a cast
Removing a cast