Educating Patients: Creating Teaching Moments in Practice
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COURSE OVERVIEW The purpose of this course is to provide HCPs with current evidence-based information to help them learn and apply skills and practice for effective patient and family teaching in a variety of settings. Effective education is essential to help patients and family gain knowledge. This is important to help them to manage health, improve adherence to healthcare plans, cope with health changes, participate actively in the decision-making process, and promote an overall healthy lifestyle. All healthcare professionals (HCPs) can identify teaching opportunities to assess and provide effective education.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES ● Appraise the significance of effective patient and family education on patient outcomes. ● Examine barriers to learning in the healthcare setting and the related effects on a person’s learning capability.
● Analyze teaching strategies that deliver effective learning to the patient and/or family. ● Discuss how to create teachable moments in healthcare settings.
CHAPTER 1: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PATIENT AND FAMILY TEACHING Learning outcome
vide education. Teaching does not have to be long or complicated to be effective. Healthcare professionals should identi- fy when there is an appropriate time for effectual teaching, and how to best edu- cate the person they are interacting with. Goals for patient education are to help patients and family gain, retain, and ap- ply knowledge. Through effective educa- tion, patients should be able to manage health, actively participate in decision making, and improve compliance with their plan of care. Depending on the setting, the “pa- tient” may be classified as the “resident,” “client,” or “customer”; for the purpose of this course, the word patient will be used. Teaching and healthcare professions Professions have been described in many ways, although there are common themes that are included within the de- scriptions of a profession. These factors include that a profession is based on a
After completing this chapter, the learner will be able to appraise the significance of effective patient and family education
on patient outcomes, including: Reduced readmission rates. Improved health outcomes. Introduction
Patients must have a good understand- ing of what is needed for their health and wellness. Families and caregivers who support or assist patients also need this information. Education and teaching are essential to ensure that patients and fam- ilies have a comprehension of factors that contribute to wellness and recovery from illness, such as medications, procedures, and therapies. Each person learns differ- ently, and although there are common strategies, teaching should be individual- ized. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have many opportunities in interactions with patients, families, and caregivers to pro-
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