Assessing Teach-Back Utilization in a Downtown Medical Center

Area of Science:

• Health Literacy
• Patient Education
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• St. Vincent Charity Medical Center policy mandates clear patient communication using plain language and Teach-Back.
• Teach-Back, a method for confirming patient understanding, is a key component of effective health communication.
• Assessing the accuracy of documented Teach-Back use was a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate healthcare provider knowledge and utilization of the Teach-Back method.
• To identify and address barriers hindering the consistent use of Teach-Back.
• To determine patient recall of Teach-Back implementation by their providers.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online surveys were administered to internal medicine residents and nurses regarding Teach-Back.
• Provider survey data informed mandatory training sessions focused on health literacy and Teach-Back.
• Inpatient surveys were conducted to assess patient recall of Teach-Back usage.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of providers (96.3%) believed Teach-Back should be used frequently, yet only 79.9% reported using it.
• Providers rated their confidence in using Teach-Back highly but also reported significant barriers.
• Only 46% of surveyed patients recalled their providers using the Teach-Back method.

Conclusions:

• A notable discrepancy exists between provider-reported Teach-Back use and patient recall, suggesting potential overestimation of utilization.
• Patient recall may be influenced by the timing of surveys during their hospital stay.
• Consistent provider training effectively addresses barriers and misconceptions surrounding Teach-Back, reinforcing its importance in patient care.