Strategies for Selecting Effective Patient Nutrition Education Materials

Abstract

Nutrition and diet therapy are at the center of health promotion activities and self-management of chronic diseases. To assist an individual in making informed decisions regarding his or her diet and increase adherence to dietary recommendations or treatments, healthcare professionals must select health information that is appropriate to the client's level of understanding. A systematic approach in the evaluation of patient education material, whether in print or on the World Wide Web, must focus on the information's content, literacy level, graphical displays, layout and typography, motivating principles, cultural relevance, and feasibility. Additional criteria should be evaluated when accessing Web sites and include source, site credibility, conflict of interest, disclaimer, disclosure, navigation, and interactivity information.

ASPEN Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition Therapy

“…Language and health literacy are factors to consider in the instruction process. Clayton 14 authored an invited review to aid selection of effective patient nutrition education materials and has identified some key features of the healthcare delivery system that may detract from the effectiveness of EN education and negatively affect the patient's ability to safely administer EN at home, including decreased patient‐provider contact time, length of hospital stay, and increased patient responsibility for self‐care. When selecting education materials, it is important to evaluate them for content, literacy level, graphics, layout, and typography.…”

“…When online sources are used, educators need to evaluate the references' credibility and help patients find reliable Internet resources. For example, websites can be reviewed for potential conflicts of interest, disclaimers, and disclosures, and the ease of navigation and interactivity can also be evaluated 14 …”

A Narrative Review of the Patient Journey Through the Lens of Non-communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…There is potential to address the underlying issues by involving caregivers during consultation, use of native language while providing therapy or counselling, observing cultural nuances and levels of literacy. Awareness of the patients' needs and cultural background should take precedence in the conversation around expectations of adherence of follow-up; physicians explanations and the level of patients' understanding significantly affect treatment adherence, treatment outcome, and patients' satisfaction [47]. Healthcare providers need to be critically aware of these issues when communicating with patients and their caregivers, select health information that is appropriate to the patients' level of understanding, and employ a systematic approach using a basket of tools (e.g., printed material, displays, videos, and discussions) to educate and improve awareness and stress motivating principles, cultural relevance, and feasibility [47].…”

Occupational noise induced hearing loss in the mining sector in South Africa: Perspectives from occupational health practitioners on how mineworkers are trained

“…In this way, even complex concepts could be understood if appropriate communication skills are applied (Zuhlke & Engel, 2013). It is known that physicians' explanations and the level of patients' understanding significantly affect treatment adherence, treatment outcome and patients' satisfaction (Clayton, 2010). The same argument applies to OHPs.…”