Developing an educational material based on the needs and health literacy of patients receiving radiotherapy and their relatives

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of health literacy and the needs of patients receiving radiotherapy and their relatives in order to develop a written educational material and consequently to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational material. This study was conducted at Dr.Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Hospital, and planned in three phases. The sample is included 200 patients and 200 relatives for the first part of the study. At the first phase, the health literacy level is determined with using 'Rapid Estimated Adult Literacy in Medicine –REALM' scale and NVS (Newest Vital Sign) scales and information needs are identified by using the questionnaire. At the second phase, the educational material is developed according to the health literacy level and the needs of patients and their relatives. At the third phase, the material is assessed by experts by using 'Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM)" for reliability and quality of information DISCERN (Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information) and in terms of the level of literacy SMOG and Flesh readability formula. The age averages for patients and the relatives were 52.7±12.2 (19-77) and 44.8 ±12.8 (19-70) respectively. Patients (68%) and relatives (58.5 %) were mostly primary level educated. The mean scores for REALM were 55.8 ± 11.2 (range: 23-66) for patients and for relatives were 57.3 ± 9.5 (range: 25-66) that indicates 7th to 8th grade which means that they will struggle with many educational materials for patients. The mean scores for NVS was 0.97 ± 1.6 for patients and 1.3 ± 1.9 (range: 0-6) for relatives which shows limited health literacy. All the patients and the relatives were in need of information however majority of them (77% patients and 73% relatives) did not receive any education. Among the education received patients and the relatives, only 25.5 % of the patients and 35% of the relatives stated that they were satisfied with the given education. Majority of the patients and the relatives preferred written and verbal education prior to the commencement of the radiotherapy. Written educational material was developed to meet with the needs and the health literacy level of the group. Evaluation of the readability level of the written educational material was found grade 10 according to SMOG Formula and was found medium to easy level according to Flesh Formula. Written educational material was reviewed by the concerned specialists and found that the content of the material and the quality of knowledge was found highly satisfactory.