Composing a patient education pamphlet for deep vein thrombosis

An estimated 1 to 5 million Americans develop a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) each year (Kurowski, 1997). Educating patients about this health-related problem is necessary to alter their health behavior and improve their potential for optimal health outcomes (Falvo, 1994). Patient education is constantly changing to meet the demands placed by today’s health care system (Bastable, 1997; Falvo, 1994; Whitman, Gliet, Graham, and Boyd, 1992). The nurse practitioner assumes a vital role in the patient education process (Close, 1988). The use of printed education materials (PEMs) is one method to facilitate the achievement of health.

Using Bernier and Yasko’s (1991) EPEM model for designing and evaluating PEMs, a patient education pamphlet was designed for use with patients diagnosed with, or who are high risk for, DVT. The purpose of the pamphlet is to supplement and reinforce oral instructions given to the patient by the health care provider. After construction, the pamphlet was submitted to a patient education committee in a northwestern Pennsylvania acute care facility for evaluation. Once the recommended changes were instituted, the PEM was relinquished to the committee for publication and distribution throughout the institution.