Amy:

I'll refer you back to AHRQ's "Questions are the Answer" (http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/)

There is an online interactive tool patiens can use to create their own list of questions and it does cover side effects. For those patients who do not have access to a computer/Internet or may not have the skills, the questions tool is available in a brochure format and patients can place a checkmark next to the questions they want their doctor to answer.

AHRQ also has some good resources regarding patient safety. "20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors" addresses side effects: "Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could cause. If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does—or, if something unexpected happens instead. That way, you can report the problem right away and get help before it gets worse. A study found that written information about medicines can help patients recognize problem side effects and then give that information to their doctor or pharmacist."

It also covers the "what might go wrong" with Medicines, Surgery, Diagnosis, Equipment, and Lab reports. 

AHRQ also has a number of resources on "Medical Errors & Patient Safety" on their web site:  http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/errorsix.htm

Doug Seubert
Guideline Editor
Quality Improvement & Care Management
Marshfield Clinic
www.marshfieldclinic.org
1000 N Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 387-5096 (1-800-782-8581 ext. 75096)
seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org

------Original Message------
From:	"Amy Birney" <abirney at orcasinc.com>
Date:	Mon Apr 28, 2008 -- 11:33:56 AM
To:	seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org
Subject:	Re: [HealthLiteracy 1960] Re: Health Literacy Interventions

I've been creating online tools for patients for several years and am trying
to get better up to speed on "health literacy" approaches that complement
what I've already been doing. The thing that seems to be missing from Ask Me
3 and the Manitoba Patient's Prompt Card is a question that asks about
possible side effects. True? If so, is there a reason for that? Do you know
of any patient-side tools that include the "what can go wrong and what do I
do about it" line of discussion?

-- 
Amy Birney, MPH, CHES
Research Scientist
Oregon Center for Applied Science
260 E. 11th, Eugene OR 97401
541-349-4826 (direct)
www.orcasinc.com

On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:31 AM, Seubert, Douglas <
seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org> wrote:


> "Ask Me 3" is OK, but there are other resources that are just as good, if

> not better.

>

> I'm partial to AHRQ's "Questions are the Answer"

> http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/

>

> This is a good resource for those who want to learn how to communicate

> with the health care system, not just your doctor. I think the "build your

> own list of questions" is a great online tool for those who have Internet

> access and are comfortable using computers. Otherwise it can be downloaded

> and printed. I often use bits and pieces of the AHRQ information in my

> patient education newsletters. While the questions themselves are simple,

> some of the other web resources (including the glossary) is written at a

> higher reading level. But the video is fun!

>

> Another good resource is one that was mentioned earlier this week from the

> Literacy Partners of Manitoba. Their "Patient's Prompt Card" (

> http://www.plainlanguage.mb.literacy.ca/resource/Prompt%20card.pdf) has a

> section on questions, and it's very similar to Ask Me 3:

>

> 1. What is my main problem?

> 2. What do I need to do?

> 3. Why is it important for me to do this?

> 4. Will I get better? How long will it take?

>

> What I like about this resource is that it goes another step:

>

> If you still don't understand…

> You might:

> • say: "This is new to me. Will you please explain that to me again?"

> • ask: "What does that mean?" " I don't understand that word."

> • ask for a picture of the medical problem.

> • ask him/her to write things down.

> • bring someone to the next visit.

>

>

> Doug Seubert

> Guideline Editor

> Quality Improvement & Care Management

> Marshfield Clinic

> www.marshfieldclinic.org

> 1000 N Oak Avenue

> Marshfield, WI 54449

> (715) 387-5096 (1-800-782-8581 ext. 75096)

> seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org

>

>


-- 
Amy Birney, MPH, CHES
Research Scientist
Oregon Center for Applied Science
260 E. 11th, Eugene OR 97401
541-349-4826 (direct)
888-349-5472