Reaching urban, low-income patients

Over and over again the research shows the most effective and efficient ways to teach patients and families is to involve them in the process and individualize teaching to the needs of the learner.  For example, a recent qualitative study looked at the barriers to asthma care among urban, low-income families as perceived by children with asthma and their caregivers.

Laster, N., Holsey, C. N., Shendell, D. G., McCarty, F. A., & Celano, M. (2009). Barriers to asthma management among urban families: caregiver and child perspectives. Journal of Asthma, 46(7), 731-739.

This study concluded that families in urban, low-income communities require asthma management interventions tailored to their specific characteristics, barriers, and challenges.

This reinforces the notion that assessment of learning needs is essential.  Once you know what isn’t working, and why it isn’t working, you can design an intervention that could work.  Patient education needs to be individualized to the learner’s needs.

© Fran London, 2009