patient-education

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