All About Your Liver: A Toolkit for Patients with Special Learning Needs

This educational program on hepatitis and the liver is designed for patients with special learning needs, such as severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) or other cognitive impairments. Such patients are often at a higher-than-average risk to contract hepatitis C, yet they are often, and perhaps erroneously, deemed poor candidates for treatment. The intent of this material is to increase the patient's awareness of hepatitis C related issues, and to encourage the patient to seek out appropriate medical care. The intent of this manual is to assist the facilitator in offering the information in a format and style that is sensitive to the unique needs of veterans who have SPMI or other cognitive impairments. The instructor does not need to be an expert in liver health or SPMI to use this manual and conduct a class successfully.