For the population to remain in good health, information is very important. Patients face fewer risks and stay healthier when they stay informed. Therefore, in the health sector, communication is an essential thing in achieving best results in health. In order to achieve better system of relaying information efficiently, clear and understandable forms of sharing information is vital. Just like other professions, there is need to understand and apply proper communication structure in health sector in order to achieve good results and a strong relationship between stakeholders and patients. Achieving it requires education and training so as to equip nurses and other health experts with the knowledge and skill to apply in the field. Teaching has been reviewed as one of the oldest and debatable the most important nursing intervention. Learning is not necessary to obtain through teaching rather, practicing, exercising, and developing passion to know are an important part of learning. In order to achieve best in health education, learning styles, developmental stages, literacy level, learner attitude and character should be considered. This paper evaluates patient education materials that should be used for educating the patient in the near future practice. It explains findings, the suitable target group, and the possible changes that could be made in order to enlarge the audience and promotes the material’s effectiveness. It also give and identify characteristics of learners that should be considered in developing teaching strategies.
Health care faces a lot of challenges when it comes to patient care and general public health care maintenance. In the area of substance abuse and mental health, health care stakeholders have been faced with challenges in solving the problems and providing information to the patient. There are various health literacy materials and strategies that have been provided by various stakeholders to help curb the negative impact of the problem. Health literacy simply means the ability to gain information, understand and utilize every precaution given to remain healthy and free from infection. Patience need to be informed in order to remain in good health. For instance, in the article concerning the tobacco treatment, health care practitioners have been the responsibility to inform and educate the public on the effects of the substance. Their work is to come up with possible simpler integrated planning in relaying information concerning the effects of the drugs. They inform their clients on every aspect concerning their health conditions. Some literacy materials are suitable for mental health while others can be used by patients with mental health problems. One of the literacy book on substance abuse and behavioral health is by Nielsen-Bohlman LT, Panzer AM, Hamlin B, et al. (2004). Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. The educational material provides information on the problem and gives guideline information to the patients on how to take measures and prevent effects of drug substances. The material provides information in written suitable way, although it cannot be access by all parties.
The work of health practitioners is to inform and educate the patients. The health care stakeholders educate and provide proper information to the clients, so providing literacy informative material is necessary. Center for Disease Control for instance provide educational material on various health hazardless of drug abuse. They try to provide information to the public on the problem in an easy format of understanding. The literacy level of their materials may be challenging to some parties due to terms use which may require further explanation from the experts
In order to improve health literacy in tobacco users and mental health patients, changes should be made to enlarge audience and increase material effectiveness. Coming up with improved methods of relaying information in a simpler method and accessible to all is an example. Lack of information on substance abuse and mental health problems is behind many problems. For instance, the written books and article such as the ones in the CDC, should be provided in a simpler accessible platforms that are much accessible by many. Printing catalogue, coming up with informative summary and providing alternative access for variety of patient education level is important.
Furthermore, it is important to note that when designing health communication material, the audience’s culture and literacy skills are two major factors to consider so as to effectively capture their attention. Therefore providing literacy material in simple language, and form that is accessible to many is important in achieving wide audience and effective communication in the field. Also changes should be made in the literacy material so that it can encouraging patients to develop attitudes of help seeking play an important role in the maintenance of good health and patient protection. Furthermore, providing relevant information to patients on how to seek information and knowledge on risks involved in the area thus promoting individual self-care.
Educators act as the role models to the learners since they have the potential to inspire and influence the learner. Therefore, identifying the physical, cognitive and psychological character of the learner is important as it helps in identifying effective teaching strategies (Bastable , 2006).
(Bastable, 2008)
The targeted population are those people struggling with tobacco use and mental health problems. Information reveals that tobacco abuse contributes to the rising health complications among users. For instance, it is the main cause of liver disease like cancer which cause many deaths worldwide. Therefore, people need to be told facts about the implications of abusing substances like tobacco. Mental problems have been associated with substance abuse and negligence among the patient. Substances and drug abuse cause mental health problems since they act on the mesolimbic dopamine system in the brain. The part of Brain system which is normally affected is involved in memory, emotion, reward, and cognition. Thus, in determining the proper approach of teaching and informing the patient is important. Readiness in terms of knowledge, physical, emotional and experimental are important (Bastable, 2008). Although educating the patience on the effects of drugs and other substance abuse have been encouraging, there is continued negligence continue to occur. Learners with mental health vary in characters. People with proper mental health feel good about themselves, they control emotions and have a sense of understanding. Patient that need care in mental health have characters which associate with brain disorders. The mental illness affects how an individual carry herself or himself. It reduces one’s ability to learn or understand things.
Learners’ characteristics like gender, culture, motivation and developmental stage influences their willingness to learn new concepts. Therefore, trainers should ensure that these characteristics does not affect experts ones they are qualified to offer service in the heath sector. Learners need to be nurtured in a manner they understand and apply concepts as professionals. They should develop understanding that people are the same even though they are from different cultures. This can be a great milestone in lowering discrimination in the health sector. Also, gender should not affect their service delivery. Learners must be prepared to serve both genders with no problem.
References
Bastable, S. B. (2006). Essentials of patient education. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Bastable, S. B. (2008). Nurse as educator : principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett.
CDC. (2009, April). Strategic and Proactive Communication. A guide for creating easy-to-understand materials, p. 44.
Kitchie, S. (2008). Determinants of Learning. In S. B. Bastable (Ed.), Nurse as educator: Principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice (3rd ed, pp. 93-145). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Nielsen-Bohlman LT, Panzer AM, Hamlin B, et al. (2004). Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. Committee on Health Literacy, Board on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2004
