title: Innovative system to improve use of patient education materials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a new storage system for patient education materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous surveys before and after implementation of new storage system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Family medicine residency teaching centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  All nurses, staff doctors, and first- and second-year residents in the unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Implementation of a new storage system for patient education materials, orientation of all health professionals in the unit to the new system, and periodic distribution of patient education newsletters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported use of patient education materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates were 73% (30 of 41 health professionals) in 1990 and 86% (36 of 42) in 1992. Responses to the first survey on use of 20 categories of patient education materials showed materials were seldom used by most respondents. Back Care, Nutrition, Diabetes, VD/Birth Control, and Pregnancy categories were the most frequently used. In the second survey, more respondents reported using these five categories of pamphlets. Rates of use varied only slightly for the remaining 15 categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professionals reported more frequent use of certain patient education materials following implementation of a new storage system.
authors.affiliation: Herzl Family Practice Centre, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Que.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D000043:Abstracting and Indexing / Q000592:standards*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000592:standards*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials