Nurse digest : patient education.

Includes bibliographical references and index

Introduction to patient education -- Assessing patient needs -- Developing a patient-centered education plan -- Effective communication in patient education -- Teaching methods and materials -- Evaluating patient education -- Legal and ethical considerations in patient education.

"Patient education refers to the process of influencing patient behavior by producing changes in knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to maintain or improve health. As health professionals, nurses or physicians are in a unique position to take a leadership role in patient education. They develop long-term, trusting relationships with patients, providing opportunities to encourage and reinforce changes in health behavior.
Patient education is an essential component of residency training for health professionals. It is a duty for all health practitioners and should be a core component of medical school curricula. To provide effective patient education, a variety of practical skills must be mastered. These include ascertaining patients' educational needs, identifying barriers to learning, counseling concisely, evaluating and utilizing written, audiovisual, and computer-based patient education materials, and incorporating education into routine office visits.
The health belief model can be used to design educational interventions that are most likely to be effective. This model is based on the idea that a patient's beliefs about their health and the perceived benefits of a particular behavior change are crucial in motivating them to take action. By understanding a patient's beliefs and attitudes, health professionals can tailor their educational interventions to be more effective.
Providing patients with complete and current information helps create an atmosphere of trust, enhances the doctor-patient relationship, and empowers patients to participate in their own health care. Effective patient education ensures that patients have sufficient information and understanding to make informed decisions regarding their care. It also helps to reduce anxiety and fear associated with medical procedures, promotes adherence to treatment regimens, and improves health outcomes.
This book is divided into seven chapters. Each chapter covers a different aspect of patient education that is important for nurses to understand. This book is designed to be a comprehensive guide for nurses who want to improve their patient education skills and help their patients make informed decisions about their health"-- Back cover.