Introducing Arabic language patient education materials in Jordan

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Primary Care Medicine
• Cultural Adaptation of Health Materials

Background:

• Patient education materials are crucial for health literacy and informed decision-making.
• There is a significant need for culturally appropriate patient education resources in Jordan's primary care settings.
• Previous efforts in developing and implementing patient education in Jordan were limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and introduction of patient education materials.
• To assess the cultural relevance and reception of these materials in a Jordanian primary care setting.
• To identify factors influencing the successful integration of patient education into clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Development of over 25 Arabic language patient education materials.
• Materials were designed to align with cultural and social norms in Jordan.
• Evaluation of material readability and patient/physician reception.

Main Results:

• Patient education materials were frequently shared among patients and their social networks.
• Materials achieved excellent readability when written at a sixth-grade reading level.
• The developed materials were positively received by both patients and physicians.

Conclusions:

• Culturally sensitive patient education materials are highly needed in Jordan.
• Understanding local culture is key to aligning health messages and establishing credibility.
• Routine integration of patient education into medical consultations is a vital goal, requiring further practice-based research to overcome barriers.