Enhancing recall of information from a patient education booklet: a trial using cardiomyopathy patients.
A quasi-experimental trial was conducted to compare the effect on information recall of: (a) the use of adjunct questions (AQ) in printed materials; and (b) a procedure (the 5Rs) for integrating printed patient education materials into face-to-face teaching. A total of 51 patients with severe left ventricular failure (cardiomyopathy) was assigned to one of three groups (n=17). Each group worked with a purpose-prepared booklet, the first in association with the 5Rs procedure; the second group with a version of the booklet containing adjunct questions; and the third with a text only version of the booklet. Recall of information from the booklet was measured using a checklist scored on the basis of responses secured in a standardised interview. Improved recall was associated with both the adjunct questions and the 5Rs procedure, with the latter achieving a substantially superior outcome. The practical implications of these findings are presented and directions for further research indicated.
Webber
D
D
Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, NSW 2010, Darlinghurst, Australia. cardiacrehab@stvincents.com.au
Higgins
L
L
Baker
V
V
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D013664:Teaching Materials