The design of written information for cardiac patients: a review of the literature

Abstract

• Written information is a form of communication that is being recognized by nurses as increasingly important, and a large amount of information is now being produced. • Now that patient turnover is becoming more rapid and hospital stays shorter, thus leaving less time for face‐to‐face patient education, nurses are increasingly relying on the written word to supplement verbal information‐giving. • It is vital that written materials, whatever their source, should be of the highest quality. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the case of post‐coronary patients. • In view of the dearth of research‐based cardio‐specific literature, this review examines the broader literature and offers guidelines for nurses who wish to produce their own information. • Format and presentation of written materials rather than content are the focus and the issues and conclusions are applicable to nurses working in fields other than cardiac nursing.

Clinical decision-making in cardiac nursing: a review of the literature

“…They question whether it is realistic to suggest that guidelines can reflect the values of each healthcare discipline. Stress occurs when nurses try to reconcile their ideals of patient care with the reality of nursing (Walsh and Shaw 2000). Hunt (1997) identifies that nurses do not use research findings because: they do not know about them, they do not understand them, they do not believe them, they do not know how to apply them and they are not allowed to use them.…”

Sharing knowledge is the key to success in a patient-physician relationship: how to produce a patient information leaflet on COPD

“…Leaflets are seen as one of the most appropriate and least expensive means of providing patient information [12,15]. In recent years, there has been an increase in the production of health-related written information.…”

Pembentukan dan Penilaian Bahan Pendidikan Bercetak Bertajuk “Panduan Penyusuan Susu Ibu: Fakta Vs Mitos”

“…Menurut Arnold et al (2006), gambar yang digunakan boleh memudahkan pembelajaran dengan menerangkan perkara yang penting dan adalah berkait rapat dengan teks, di mana ia berupaya untuk meningkatkan perhatian, komprehensi dan ingatan pembaca terhadap informasi pendidikan daripada penggunaan tulisan sahaja (Walsh & Shaw 2000). Dengan ini, ia dapat memberi gambaran yang lebih jelas terhadap informasi yang ingin disampaikan kepada kumpulan sasaran.…”

“…Oleh itu, saiz huruf yang digunakan untuk sesebuah bahan pendidikan bercetak adalah sekurang-kurangnya saiz 12 (Aldridge 2004;Arnold et al 2006;Ivnik & Jett 2008). Rekabentuk huruf yang berlainan juga menentukan saiz huruf yang digunakan kerana ia mempengaruhi jarak antara perkataan (Walsh & Shaw 2000).…”