How effective are your patient education materials? Guidelines for developing and evaluating written educational materials.

Written educational materials are an essential component of a comprehensive education program. To be effective and useful, educational materials must meet the specific needs of the target patient population. Many available educational materials may not meet the needs of your patients, therefore efforts to develop appropriate written educational tools may be necessary. Developing quality educational materials include several steps: conducting a needs assessment, establishing learning objectives, writing the text, and evaluating the piece. The quality of the text is often determined by readability. The text should be written on a level that is appropriate for the patient group. Content and style, layout, color, and illustrations all influence readability and quality. Most important, good quality educational materials help promote the relationship between the patient and the health care professional as well as enhance patient knowledge and self-care.