Consumer Information and Education

Crossing the Language Chasm. C. Brach, I. Fraser, K. Paez, Health Affairs 24(2):2005, 424-434. Reviews the evidence on the link between linguistic competence and health care quality and the impact of particular language-assistance strategies. (AHRQ 05-R038)

Guide to Health Care Quality. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, September 2005, 16 pp. Provides tips to help consumers be active in making decisions about health care to help make sure they receive the best possible care. Also discusses quality measures and other tools for assessing health care quality, including report cards, consumer ratings, and accreditation reports. (AHRQ 05-0088)

Having Surgery? What You Need to Know. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, October 2005, 12 pp. For patients who are facing surgery that is not an emergency, helps patients and their families understand more about surgery, and whether it has to be done right away, or can be done later. Encourages patients to ask questions. (AHRQ 05(06)-0074-A) Spanish language booklet (AHRQ 05(06)-0074-B)

Next Steps After Your Diagnosis: Finding Information and Support. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, July 2005, 22 pp. Helps patients who have been diagnosed with an illness find information and resources, and deal with the physical and emotional aspects of their diagnosis. (AHRQ 05-0049) Spanish language booklet (AHRQ 06-0003)

Next Steps After Your Diagnosis: Ten Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a Diagnosis. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, August 2005. Pocket-sized card accompanies booklet. (AHRQ 05-0049-1) Spanish language card (AHRQ 06-0003-1)

Questions and Answers About Health Insurance: A Consumer Guide. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, August 2007, 30 pp. Uses a question and answer format to describe the different kinds of health insurance plans currently available. Includes a glossary of health insurance terms and a list of resources for more information. (AHRQ 07-0043) Spanish language booklet (07(08)-0043-1)

Surgery Choices for Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer. National Cancer Institute and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, August 2004, 24 pp. Provides information to help women with early-stage breast cancer choose which type of breast surgery to have. (PHS 04-M053) Spanish language booklet (AHRQ 05-0031) Bilingual bookmark, October 2005 (AHRQ 05(06)-M058)

What You Need to Know About Episiotomy. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, December 2005, two-sided card. Discusses the need to talk to your doctor before delivery about whether to have an episiotomy during child birth. (AHRQ 06-0005)

Your Guide to Coumadin®/Warfarin Therapy. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, August 2008, 16 pp. Discusses ways for patients to care for themselves while taking Coumadin® (generic name warfarin), a blood-thinning medication. Includes information on who should and should not take the medication, how to take it, necessary blood tests, possible side effects, use of other medications, and more. (AHRQ 08-0028-A) Spanish language booklet (AHRQ 08-0028-B)

Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, August 2008, 12 pp. A consumer guide on preventing and treating blood clots, including causes, symptoms, treatment options, and side effects of blood thinners. (AHRQ 08-0058-A) Spanish language booklet (08-0058-B)

Your Medicine: Play It Safe. The National Council on Patient Information and Education and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, February 2003, 12 pp. Instructs patients about how to partner with health care professionals to ensure they take the right medicines correctly. Explains four ways to "play it safe;" and provides a tear-off, wallet-size form for recording medicines and supplements, and emergency contact and other medical information. (AHRQ 03-0019; up to 10 copies free) Spanish language booklet (AHRQ 03-0028) Includes insert on Women and Medicines: What You Need to Know, April 2005, English/Spanish (AHRQ 03(05)-0019-A)

Go to Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Preventive Services, and Effective Health Care for other materials for consumers.

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Staying Healthy—Getting High-Quality Health Care

Questions Are the Answer

Be Prepared for Medical Appointments: Build Your Question List. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, May 2007, three-fold brochure. Presents a list of potential questions to be asked during a medical appointment. Users can pick and choose from the list, which is divided into nine topic areas: medications, tests, diagnoses, treatment for an illness or condition, surgery, and considerations when choosing health insurance, a clinician, a hospital, or long-term care. (AHRQ 07-0039-A) Spanish language booklet (AHRQ 07-0039-B)

Do You Know the Right Questions to Ask? Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, February 2007, two-sided card. Presents a list of 10 simple questions to help consumers take a more active role in their own health care. English/Spanish (AHRQ 07-M014)

Questions Are the Answer. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, May 2007, poster. Presents the same 10 questions as the two-sided card, but in poster format with illustrations and a phone number to call for more information. (AHRQ 07-M031-A) Spanish language poster (AHRQ 07-M031-B)

Real Men Wear Gowns. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and The Advertising Council, 2008, public service campaign and Web site. Aims to raise awareness among middle-aged men about the importance of preventive medical testing. Web site includes information on recommended ages for preventing testing and lists of appropriate tests; a quiz that assesses knowledge about preventive health care; tips for talking with the doctor; a glossary of health terms; and links to online resources for more information. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/realmen.

Superheroes. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and The Advertising Council, 2008, public service campaign and Web site. Encourages Latinos to be heroes for their families by getting the preventive health care they need. Spanish-language Web site features tips on ways to stay healthy and communicate with the doctor, recommendations on preventive testing, help in understanding prescriptions, a quiz, and a glossary of medical terms, as well as links to other resources for health information. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/superheroes

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