By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
Does your teaching increase your patient’s knowledge of the disease? Does it motivate them to make necessary life style changes? How do you determine that your teaching benefits your patient? How do you measure if learning has taken place?
A systematic method of evaluating your teaching cannot only help to assess your program’s success but can identify your strengths and weaknesses. In patient teaching, it is important to determine the patient’s knowledge base of the disease (diet, foot care, diabetic identification, exercise, signs and symptoms of hypo and hyperglycemia, the importance of carrying glucose etc.), and if necessary behavior changes are taking place. What methods do you use to determine this? Observations, phone calls, personal interviews, written questionnaires? If questionnaires – what types – multiple choice, completion, true or false? What percentage of complaints do you receive? Do they even answer the questionnaires? If not, have you found ways to encourage compliance – including a statement to ensure confidentiality, providing a stamped self addressed envelope, or follow-up calls? Did you provide adequate time for teaching? Have you encouraged staff to reinforce teaching? Have patients been allowed to adequately demonstrate blood sugar monitoring, insulin administration etc. prior to being expected to go it alone?
Negative responses to this feedback can provide you with opportunities to: adjust your program content, use different teaching strategies, including more visual aids or written information, provide a better learning environment, speak louder, and allow more group discussions or demonstrations. Today’s nursing professional needs creative practitioners who can cope with current revolutionary changes brought about by automation, advances in medical science and the expansion of health services. We need to respect and encourage imaginative and unusual ideas, proved opportunities for learning and encourage independent learning and thinking. What have you learned from your patients, teacher?
