Producing patient literature
BMJ 2005; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0505200 (Published 01 May 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;330:0505200- Richard Crane, fourth year medical student1,
- Bakula Patel, clinical lecturer in primary care1
- 1University of Nottingham
Many hospitals, charities, and support groups produce their own literature on a wide range of topics. Evidence shows that patients' recall of a consultation is often poor.1 So as people increasingly want to participate in choosing their care, literature for patients is a useful resource. Information can be read and absorbed at their own pace. But the standard of this information is often inadequate, either being presented poorly or with inappropriate content.2 Medical students are sometimes asked to contribute to these resources either as a course module or project.
When writing patient information, there are three things to think about:
What does the patient want to know?
What messages does the medical profession want to get across?
What is the most appropriate way to give the information?
What does the patient want to know?
Many of the things a patient will want to know are the same things that you or I would want to know if diagnosed with something previously unknown to us. The best way to find out exactly what to include is to speak to patients who have been diagnosed with the …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £184 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.