| | Practical strategies for enhancing patient education in hemodialysis clinics
ALTHOUGH THE RENAL dietitian is responsible for nutrition education, a team approach should be nurtured as we strive to motivate our patients to adhere to their renal diets, fluid limitations, medications, dialysis treatments, etc. Include and educate your nurses, social workers, and especially patient care technicians when designing incentive programs and events, and sign them up as “coaches” and “cheerleaders.” Post a “patient target list” each month at the nurse’s station as a reminder of which patients need extra coaching. Ask your teammates to be your eyes and ears, and don’t forget to reward them along the way, too!
Including the entire dialysis team and encouraging participation in patient education efforts can only help to increase the chances of success.
Time constraints  As workloads increase, priorities and time constraints may not allow for developing patient incentive contests or playing interactive games. Keep it simple by providing patients (and staff) with ready-made educational visuals, word searches, or crossword puzzles. Offer small rewards for those who complete puzzles. Every few months, create a low-maintenance display on bulletin boards, doors, or walls. Provide educational materials and recipes in a “help yourself” shelf in the waiting area or clinic. For an easy monthly incentive contest, try printing two laboratory report cards—one for the patient and another to place in a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place raffle box. After reviewing laboratory values with a patient and determining their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd placing (perhaps based on phosphorus levels, percent decrease, etc), the patient watches his duplicate report card being dropped into the appropriate raffle box. Each month a raffle takes place for a prize in each category. Low literacy challenges Create educational materials using simple language with as many visuals as possible. The subject matter of handouts should be single-concept and around the 4th to 6th grade reading level. Use videotapes and audiotapes whenever possible. Create displays with real-life objects that are relevant to your patients. Consider conducting a supermarket tour for a hands-on approach to label reading. Be sensitive to various cultures and/or religions, and attempt to recognize the different traditions and holidays. Look for useful free items here Supermarket
•Current food advertisements
•Butcher paper (for banners)
•Used display items
•Shopping cart (borrow)
•Donated gift certificates
Newspapers and magazines
•Advertisements
•Coupons
•Pictures
Home
•Empty food and beverage containers (cartons of milk, yogurt and juice, canned vegetables, fruit, beans and fish, boxes of cereal, pasta, crackers, cookies, etc)
•Various sizes of cups, mugs, glasses, pitchers, bowls, ice cube trays, sports bottles, thermos
•Measuring cups and spoons
The workplace (Not exactly free but available for use)
•Colored paper
•Labels and other office supplies
•Walls, doors and windows, ceiling
•Bulletin boards
•Computer/printer (color if possible)
•Variety of fonts and graphics
•Internet (for graphics and educational material)
Donated items from vendors and food companies
•Educational materials (handouts, brochures, flipcharts, posters, etc)
•Product samples (food, spices, etc)
•Prizes
Look for useful inexpensive items here
•Grocery stores: Measuring cups, measuring spoons, candy (sugar-free and regular), spices, holiday items, lottery tickets for rewards
•Craft stores: Food models, baskets, ink stampers, labels
•Toy stores: Food models, plastic eggs, game ideas, holiday items
•Party stores: Theme visuals (sports, holidays, birthdays, congratulations, etc) banners, awards/prizes, balloons, etc
•Dollar stores: Small prizes, gift bags, holiday items
•Office supply stores: Presentation boards, poster paper, bulletin boards, colored paper, stickers, labels, maps, etc
•School supply stores: Educational themes, banners, score sheets, decorative pencils, stickers, inspirational banners and posters
•Catalogues: ShermanSpecialty.com—treasure chest and prizes or Oriental Trading catalog
a Professional Nutrition Services, Inc, Pembroke Pines, FL, USA  Address reprint requests to Donna L Morton de Souza, MPH, RD, LDN, PO Box 823033, Pembroke Pines, FL 33082
PII: S1051-2276(04)00138-4 doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2004.08.003 © 2004 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc All rights reserved. | |
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