Date of Award
Fall 2018
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Department
Public Health
First Advisor
Brenda Joly, PhD, MPH
Second Advisor
Mary Philbrick, MSEd, BSN, RN, CCRN
Keywords
Health literacy, patient education, individualized patient education, risk factors, health outcome
Abstract
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Stroke patients often get readmitted to the hospital due to various reasons. Effective patient education is a critical part of preventing hospital readmission. Several studies revealed that patient education is more effective with individualized approach than generalized passive approach. A recent survey by the Joint Commission also recommended Central Maine Medical Center to offer stroke patients individualized education that is more appropriate and effective for patients.
Average Americans read at eighth grade level but health information is usually offered at college level. According to the American Heart Association, patient education can’t be one-size-fits-all; health information should be tailored to a patient’s ability to understand and keep them motivated to maintain their health and reduce their health related risk factors.
Recommendations were prepared based on literature review and feedback from CMMC nurses who are involved in educating stroke patients and researchers who have worked on this topic. Thus recommendations were prepared with three focuses: to individualize current education material used by CMMC for stroke patient, to improve health literacy of CMMC’s current education material for stroke patients, and to implement evidence-based individualized patient education in future.
Recommended Citation
Anzuman, Sanzida, "Developing Recommendations to Prepare Individualized and Low Health Literacy Appropriate Health Education Material for Stroke Patients" (2018). Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations. 152.
https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/muskie_capstones/152
