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CAMBRIDGE HEALTH
ALLIANCE COMPUTERIZED PATIENT EDUCATION PROJECT
Welcome to the CHA Department of Community Affairs’ page on using
authorware, CHA’s computerized touchscreen patient education program.
About Authorware
Patient Education and Authorware at CHA
About Authorware
Authorware is an interactive multimedia educational software program
created by Adobe. Since 2003, CHA’s Department of Community Affairs
(CAF) has used Authorware to custom design health education and
screening modules for CHA patients.
Authorware allows patients to use a simple touch screen to access
easy-to-understand health information. Users can find answers to
questions about their health in different languages through both
audio and visual features of the modules.
CHA’s multimedia approach is ideal for patients with limited English
proficiency or low literacy skills. A patient using the program
simultaneously sees and hears the information presented in his or
her own language. Individuals with limited literacy skills can listen
to health information through headphones, and follow simple visual
cues to select the content they wish to view.
Authorware’s unique characteristics can benefit patient education
and care in a number of ways. Routine use of the modules can:
- Enhance clinical teaching and improve time-efficiency of standard
teaching messages, such as discharge instructions or basic disease
information.
- When used before a visit with a clinician, the modules can
prepare patients to interact with clinical staff, making better
use of the visit time.
- Reduce clinical staff and medical interpreter time for standardized
teaching.
- Engage hard to reach populations.
- Authorware is effective for informing low literacy and low
English proficiency (LEP) populations.
- Individual modules can be tailored to different cultural and
ethnic groups.
- Systematically test and document patient comprehension for selected
modules.
Patient Education and Authorware at CHA
CHA currently uses Authorware to create patient education and
assessment modules in selected ambulatory and inpatient settings.
Authorware uses at CHA include:
- Teaching patients about diagnosis and self care practices
- Teaching patients about medical procedures
- Screening patients for risk behaviors, symptoms, and self-management
practices.
The modules also collect certain data in each session, including
user assessment scores, user demographics and pre/post knowledge
test scores. All educational modules include a patient satisfaction
survey to measure if the session was helpful for users. This information
helps CHA determine how effective each module is.
To date, CHA has used Authorware to develop educational modules
on a variety of health topics, including:
- Asthma
- Breast Health screening and diagnostic procedures (Mammogram,
Ultrasound, Core Needle Biopsy and Wire Localization)
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Postpartum care for mother and newborn (breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
instructions)
- Tuberculosis
- Understanding primary care
Patient assessment and screening modules developed by CHA include:
- Depression Assessment (Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ)
- Stages of Change for Alcohol and Drug Use
- Social and Physical Functioning Assessment
- Diabetes Self-Management Assessment
- Domestic Violence screening
- Ambulatory Patient Satisfaction Survey
The content of each module is tailored for specific cultural populations,
and many have been translated into multiple languages. Before being
launched for general use, each module is pretested through focus
group discussions and patient interviews to assess the module’s
clarity and cultural competency.
When they are set up in a clinical environment, assessment modules
are administered in a private setting, while educational modules
are available in general clinic areas, such as waiting areas.
Please click
here to see a pdf flyer about computerized patient education.
Please click here
to see sample slides in pdf from an a patient education module developed
by CHA using Authorware.
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