1. Health Literacy and use of Teach-Back for patient education
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Health Literacy and use of Teach-Back for patient education
Improving the engagement of the patient in their own care.

2. Hidden Barriers to Communicating with Patients
Clients/Patients:
Education/ Literacy/ Language
Health Literacy:
Capacity to:
Obtain, process, understand basic health information and services
Make appropriate healthcare decisions (act on information)
Access/ navigate healthcare system

3. Red Flags for Low Literacy in patients
Frequently missed appointments
Incomplete registration forms
Non-compliance with medication
Unable to name medications, explain purpose or dosing
Identifies pills by looking at them, not reading label
Unable to give coherent, sequential history
Ask fewer questions
Lack of follow-through on tests or referrals

4. Strategies to Improve Patient Understanding
Focus on ‘need-to-know’ & ‘need-to-do’
What specifically do they need to do for themselves at home? Limit instructions to most important
Cover more at next appointment
Use “Teach Back” (examples to follow in this presentation)
Demonstrate/ draw pictures -
Use clearly written education materials
Take 2 pills each morning

5. 8 tips for Clinicians Use plain language
Limit information (2-4 key points)
Be specific and concrete, not general
Demonstrate, draw pictures, use models
Repeat/Summarize
Avoid questions with YES/NO responses – use open ended questions.
Teach-Back (Confirm Understanding)
Be positive, hopeful, empowering

6. Focus on “Need-to-know” & “Need-to-do”
What do patients need to know/do…?
When they leave the exam room
When they check out
What do they need to know about going home?
Taking medicines
Self-care
Referrals and follow-ups
Filling out forms

7. Examples of Plain Language
Commonly used terms
Plain Language Terms
Annually
Arthritis
Cardiovascular
Dermatologist
Diabetes
Hypertension
Yearly or every year
Pain in joints
Having to do with the heart
Skin doctor
Elevated sugar in the blood
High blood pressure

8. Teach-back is…
Asking patients to repeat in their own words what they need to know or do, in a non-shaming way.
● NOT a test of the patient, but of how well YOU explained a concept.
A chance to check for understanding and, if necessary, re-teach the information.

9. “Teach-back”
Ensuring agreement and understanding about the care plan is essential to achieving adherence
Some evidence that use of “teach-back” is associated with improved patient engagement in their own care.
Example script:
“I want to make sure I explained it correctly. Can you tell me in your words how you understand the plan?”

10. A means to know if patient is really understanding instructions.

11. Ask patients to demonstrate understanding, using their own words:
● “I want to be sure I explained everything clearly. Can
you please explain it back to me so I can be sure I
did?”
● “What will you tell your husband about the changes
we made to your blood pressure medicines today?”
● “We’ve gone over a lot of information about getting more exercise in your day. In your own words, tell me some of the ways you can get more exercise. How will you make it work at home?”

12. TEACHBACK Scripting: Can you tell me how you take each medicine
TEACHBACK Scripting: Can you tell me how you take each medicine? When do you take these medicines? How much or how many do you take?

13. Show me how many pills you would take in 1 day.

14. In Summary: Plain Language How much will you take in the morning?
Opportunity to re-teach if needed.
When do you call your doctor?

15. View this Video
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