Enhancing Patient Education in Pelvic Health: Strategies for Effective Learning

As clinicians, we understand pelvic health concepts can be complex, but providing efficient patient care with confidence…shouldn’t be!

Did you know that the word “doctor” comes from the Latin word docere, which means “to teach”? It’s our duty to help our patients make informed decisions about their health.

In this blog post, I’ll break down the steps and actions necessary for effective patient education:

1. Identify barriers to learning
2. Create a care plan WITH the patient
3. Take a multi-modal approach to education (i.e., DON’T rely on verbal education!)
4. Implement the 4 keys for successful patient education

And I’m excited to share my secret weapon to help implement these steps: patient education handouts!  Written material:

• Enhances patient understanding of practical skills
• Improves buy-in
• Boosts compliance 
• Skyrockets confidence (for patients and clinicians)
• Strengthens patient-provider trust!

Need done-for-you professionally created patient education handouts specific to pelvic health? I’ve got you! Read to the end, but let’s get started…

Identify Barriers to Learning

When evaluating patients, it’s essential to identify any barriers that might affect their learning and compliance. Considering the patient’s educational level, emotional state, physical awareness, and resources (time and money) will help you pre-emptively overcome barriers. 

Education Level

Patient considerations

Most clients don’t have a medical background. The general population reads and comprehends at a 5th-grade level. Anatomy and physiology ain’t easy, but a patient’s ability to grasp the basics pertaining to their diagnosis is essential to the ‘why’ behind your treatment interventions. 

If your patient appears cross-eyed or detached, they may be overwhelmed by medical jargon and complex explanations. If they nod but do not ask questions, they may want to show respect or avoid looking dumb. Don’t let them leave confused because we want them to return!

Practitioner considerations:

If you’re new to pelvic health or are working with a diagnosis you haven’t studied in depth, it makes sense to feel uncertain about your skills. Diving into pelvic health is like obtaining a whole new degree. It takes time to put the pieces together, but often, you have to treat specific diagnoses before taking that course on your wish list. 

Your confidence matters! Patients are incredibly perceptive; they can pick up on subtle cues that affect their confidence in you. Done-for-you patient education handout bundles help guide clinicians in providing interventions and explaining course concepts in lay terms. There isn’t a cookbook approach to pelvic health rehab, but these handouts help you get on the same page with your patients.

Emotional State

How a patient FEELS can influence pain and learning. 

• Many patients have been in chronic pain (> 3 months) before they come to see us. Brain pain neuroscience research shows that chronic pain can lead to depression (4). 
• Physical and emotional trauma can upregulate the CNS.

  Studies show that anxiety, often associated with sympathetic upregulation, can negatively impact learning and memory, particularly in more demanding cognitive tasks (5). 

One problem can lead to a myriad of dysfunctions. The patient can feel broken. Confusion and overwhelm can lead to frustration and failure. A practitioner who can connect with their patient and provide a rational explanation provides hope. Hope is a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety. 

Physical Awareness

Somatic Exploration

Somatic awareness involves tapping into the physical sensations of the body, which can be intimidating for some patients who have experienced trauma. A safe, graded approach is essential. Patient education handouts with meditation exercises, tips for tuning in, and strategies to influence affected areas can expand a therapist’s toolbox. Handouts allow clients to explore tuning throughout their day or for central nervous system calming. 

If your patients resist somatic practices, pair the exercise with a safe test/re-test activity. 

• Example 1: Feel the depth of a breath before and after postural correction.
• Example 2: Compare emotional well-being before and after a meditation session.

Registering improvements before and after somatic practices can increase a patient’s commitment to practice.

Physical Exploration

Some patients get the motor nuances of specific corrective exercises and are invigorated by them, while others feel overwhelmed and prefer less structured movement. If this is the case, you can still choose 1-2 therapeutic focus areas to explore with movement. For example, leaning into a downward slope on a hill to minimize force with SUI or focusing on hip extension for glute activation up a hill. Finding a balance of corrective exercises and adaptations to functional movements is the sweet spot and is different for every patient.

Resources

Today’s lifestyle is busy with commitments and responsibilities. Patients must see the value in therapy and want to feel like they are investing their time and money wisely.

I’ve noticed that patient education handouts increase carry-over at home, leading to small wins and boosted confidence. Patients are more likely to attend appointments when they have written materials with visuals to reinforce what we’ve discussed.

Create a Care Plan WITH the Patient

Creating a care plan with the patient is essential as it empowers them to take an active role in their health. By involving patients in joint decision-making, they gain a deeper understanding of their condition and treatment options, which enhances their knowledge and makes them more self-reliant. This sense of ownership increases their commitment to the treatment plan. 

Additionally, incorporating a family member or partner into the process can provide significant benefits. 

• Example 1: A second set of ears can be invaluable, especially if the patient experiences cognitive challenges. A supportive family member can help reinforce instructions and provide emotional support, which is crucial for treatment adherence. 
• Example 2: In situations where sexual health is impacted, involving a partner in discussions about brain pain neuroscience can foster understanding and improve intimacy. By learning how to apply these concepts, partners can help transform painful experiences into pleasurable ones, enhancing the patient’s overall well-being and strengthening the relationship.

Take a Multi-Modal Approach to Education

Research shows that planned patient education is far more effective than ad hoc (off-the-cuff and unplanned) teaching (3). A multi-modal approach is essential because:

• Relying solely on verbal communication is insufficient. Talking is the least effective teaching strategy. People retain only about 50% of what they hear!
• Written information significantly enhances understanding and recall, improving outcomes (but the language must be suitable for the general population). 
  • Handouts with targeted interventions and specific strategies decrease anxiety.
  • Information provided before appointments decreases confusion. 
  • Written information is digestible, and patients can handle more. Thorough yet digestible information increases patient satisfaction with healthcare providers and increases trust. 
• Visuals like pictures can be especially beneficial for individuals with lower literacy levels. Illustrated material leads to greater comprehension and recall compared to text alone. Use visuals to highlight key points, avoiding unnecessary details.

Utilizing multiple teaching strategies shows genuine concern for patients and helps build trust.

4 Keys for Successful Patient Education

Emotional Support

Help patients close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Remind them that regressions are part of progress. Use objective measures to compare progress and encourage focus on improvements rather than setbacks.

Informational Support

Break complex concepts into smaller units. Handouts provide actionable steps and exercises they can practice at home. Handouts act like stepping stones; if a patient experiences symptom regression, they can reference the material for guidance.

Feedback for Proficiency

Encourage questions and practice activities in the office. Information should be repeated and layered over time, gradually introducing new exercises or concepts.

Generalization to Real-Life

Patients must be able to apply what they learn to real-life situations that matter to them.

Done-for-You Handouts to Streamline Your Pelvic Practice

Other ways patient education handouts benefit you and your patients:

Enhance Community Awareness

Patient education handouts are effective tools for increasing awareness about your services within the community. Use these professionally crafted materials during community presentations to reinforce learning and demonstrate a high level of professionalism. Personalizing these handouts with your clinic’s information and logo can further enhance your visibility and branding.

Referral Sources Get You

Handouts can play a vital role in helping potential referral sources understand the services you offer. Patients often share these materials with their healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care, highlighting your services. Personalized handouts can leave a lasting impression and encourage more referrals.

Support Virtual Healthcare Needs

In many communities, access to pelvic health providers is limited, necessitating virtual sessions. Following up with relevant and specific patient education handouts can significantly benefit these patients by increasing compliance with home programs, boosting their confidence, and strengthening the trust in patient-provider relationships, even in a virtual setting.

By effectively using patient education handouts, practitioners can enhance communication, improve patient outcomes, and foster stronger professional relationships.

Handouts enrich the patient experience by creating ease, increasing compliance, boosting confidence, and promoting trust.

Check out our bundles if you want professionally created patient education handouts for your pelvic health practice!