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Learning Objective 1: 1. Describe the process used to organize an interdisciplinary care team to develop and evaluate patient education materials.
Learning Objective 2: 2. Discuss the methods used to acquire artwork, publish, and evaluate a patient educational guide.
Methods: An integrated review of the literature was conducted using multiple databases and the following terms: Parkinson’s disease, self-management, and self efficacy. The information was reviewed and synthesized. National Parkinson’s Foundation, national clearing house guidelines and standards for care were reviewed. A consecutive sample of 26 veterans ranked their most troubling symptoms identifying the patients’ top concerns as tremor, dystonia, balance and speech difficulties.
Planning: A team was formed consisting of: nursing, social work, physical medicine and rehabilitation, speech pathology, nutrition, and a celebrated national illustrator, Mort Walker who collaborated on the development of The Veteran’s Self-Management Guide for Parkinson’s Disease©.
Implementation: The final product was approved by the hospital Patient Education Committee and adopted as the primary educational tool for neurology patients enrolled in the Parkinson Center.
Evaluation: Thirty patients and their care partners evaluated the guide using a 10-item Likert scale and open-ended comments.
Results: Patients were mostly male, Caucasian, mean age of 59 years. The majority of patients and caregivers found the guide to be an “excellent” or “very good” resource.
Outcomes: This team endeavor produced an evidence-based educational tool that addressed patient centered topics. Veterans commented that they could relate to the advice offered by Beetle Bailey® character Sarge used in content illustrations. Consistent implementation by the interdisciplinary team improved provider-patient communication, self-management and patient learning.