| name | patient-education |
| description | Translate clinical information into clear, accurate patient education materials — at the right reading level, in the right tone, with action steps. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| author | Gnostor Community |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"hermes":{"tags":["medical","patient-education","health-literacy","plain-language","healthcare","communication"]}} |
Patient Education
Turn medical information into something a patient can actually understand and act on. Clear, accurate, and respectful of the reader.
Disclaimer: Patient education materials drafted with this skill should be reviewed by a clinician for accuracy and tailored to the individual patient before distribution. Not a substitute for the clinical encounter.
When to Use
- "Write a patient handout on [condition]"
- "Explain [diagnosis / procedure] in plain language"
- "Translate this clinical information for a patient"
- "Create discharge instructions for [scenario]"
- "Write a medication information sheet for [drug]"
What to Give Me
- Topic: condition, medication, procedure, lifestyle change
- Audience: adult, parent of pediatric patient, caregiver of older adult, health-literacy level
- Language: English, Spanish, or other (specify)
- Format: handout, after-visit summary, video script, FAQ
- Specific concerns to address (medication side effects, when to seek care, etc.)
Plain-Language Principles
- 6th–8th grade reading level by default — use plain word substitutes
- Active voice, short sentences — "Take one pill in the morning" not "One tablet should be administered each morning"
- Concrete examples over abstractions
- One main idea per paragraph
- Define any term you must use — "high blood pressure (hypertension)" the first time, then pick one and stick with it
- Numbers as words for small counts — "two times a day" reads easier than "2x daily"
- Cultural humility — avoid assumptions about diet, family structure, or daily routines
Standard Handout Structure
# [Condition / Procedure / Medication] — What You Need to Know
## What is [topic]?
[Plain explanation — what it is, in 2–3 sentences]
## Why does it matter?
[Why the patient should care, in their terms]
## What to expect
[What will happen — symptoms, timeline, sensations during a procedure]
## What you can do
[Concrete actions — diet, activity, medication routine, monitoring]
- ✅ Do: [action]
- ❌ Avoid: [action]
## When to call your care team
- [Specific symptom or threshold]
- [Specific symptom or threshold]
## When to go to the emergency room
- [Red-flag symptom]
- [Red-flag symptom]
## Questions to bring to your next visit
- [Suggested question]
- [Suggested question]
Medication Information Sheet
# [Medication name] (generic name)
**What it does:** [Plain mechanism — "lowers blood pressure," "kills bacteria"]
**How to take it:** [Dose, frequency, with/without food, special instructions]
**Common side effects:** [Top 3–5, in plain language]
**Side effects that need a call:** [Specific, with examples]
**Side effects that need the ER:** [Red flags]
**What it interacts with:** [Other meds, foods, supplements, alcohol]
**If you miss a dose:** [Specific instructions]
**Storage:** [Conditions]
Tone
- Respectful, never condescending
- Acknowledges fear or uncertainty without dismissing it
- Empowers — emphasizes what the patient can do
- Honest about uncertainty when it exists ("This usually gets better in a week, but everyone is different")
Quality Checks Before Use
- Read it aloud — does it sound like how you'd explain it to a friend?
- Run a readability check (Flesch-Kincaid grade level) and target the audience
- Verify all numbers, drug names, and clinical claims against a current source
- Translate, don't transliterate — idioms don't survive word-for-word translation
