A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

The online MUHC Patient Education Guide uses images to overcome barriers to learning for patients recently diagnosed with cancer

Montreal - The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has created a unique online Patient Education Guide that aims to support cancer patients and their families as they integrate complex clinical information, treatment options and care management strategies. Using a highly visual, multimedia-based design, the guide, which is also available to the general public, incorporates easily understandable information in a self-paced, self-directed format, and is meant to complement the existing healthcare professional and patient dialogue.

The team that developed the MUHC Patient Education Guide began with a module on Breast Cancer but, with great support from the Cedars Cancer Institute at the MUHC, intends to create additional modules that cover all of the cancers treated at the MUHC. “These modules will support current patient education initiatives as well as permit a greater depth of understanding on the part of patients and their families,” says Dr. David Fleiszer, MUHC surgeon and Director of the MUHC Education Portfolio.

The module contains a series of chapters, and reviews information about cancer, treatment options, care management, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and follow-up. The use of an image-rich approach with minimal text helps patients overcome barriers to learning such as literacy, health-literacy, language and culture. “Focusing on combining images and words can enhance understanding,” says MUHC Patient Education Consultant Julia Thomas.

“This MUHC Patient Education Guide allows us to capture, package and distribute the MUHC’s internationally recognized professional expertise,” explains the Hon. Arthur T. Porter, MUHC Director General and CEO. “This initiative gives a clear picture of the breadth of talent available across the MUHC, how we aim to encourage inter-professional approaches to health practices and what the Best Care for Life truly means.”

The MUHC Patient Education Guide also has a research component. “We will investigate the potential impact of the use of arts-informed patient education material and, specifically, the role of multimedia imagery on patient comprehension and retention, perceived satisfaction, and anxiety levels,” says Nancy Posel, Associate Director of the McGill Molson Project and one of the investigators.
This program is funded by the McGill University Health Centre, the Cedars Cancer Institute at the McGill University Health Centre, the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, the Molson Foundation and other private donations. Follow this link to visit the Patient Education Guide: Breast Cancer: http://patienteducation.muhc.ca