A nurse is teaching a patient who has low health literacy about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while giving COPD medications. Which technique is most appropriate for the nurse to use?

Question

a. Use complex analogies to describe COPD.
b. Include the most important information on COPD at the beginning of the session.
c. Ask for feedback to assess understanding of COPD at the end of the session.
d. Offer pamphlets about COPD written at the eighth grade level with large type

Answer 1

ANS: B
Include the most important information at the beginning of the session for illiterate patients or patients with a learning disability. Also, use visual cues and simple, not complex, analogies when appropriate. Another technique is to frequently ask patients for feedback to determine whether they comprehend the information. Additionally, provide teaching materials that reflect the reading level of the patient, with attention given to short words and sentences, large type, and simple format (generally, information written on a fifth grade reading level is recommended for adult learners).