Health Education Materials: Where is the Patient?

Objectives

One common definition of health literacy focuses an individual’s ability to read, interpret, and use information to make health decisions and follow treatment.  Low health literacy is associated with health disparities and poor patient outcomes. A systematic review of recent literature was performed to examine research and current views around the role and type of input patients have in the development and dissemination of health materials in hospital settings.

 Methods

Articles were identified by searching EBSCO and CINAHL using terms health literacy and patient education for 2005-2014. There is a paucity of empirical research in this area. Thus, conceptual and opinion pieces were included in the analysis.  Information on type of article, sample and methods were identified.

Results

The review found 16 articles that were empirical in nature; of these, 7 included the patient’s perspective. Ten additional conceptual/opinion pieces advocated for inclusion of patient perspectives.  The scant literature from the patient’s perspective reveals how their perspectives are undervalued.

Discussion

To date, patients have been underrepresented in the process of developing and evaluating health materials. Lack of inclusion violates a core principle of health literacy – audience focus and patient centered design. Data suggest the bulk of health materials are created from medical literature and health educator input without patient or caregiver participation. Patient involvement is critical to positive outcomes and linked to hospital readmissions as patients may be discharged without necessary tools and information needed to effectively manage their condition.