INTRODUCTION
 Patient education is a very important function in the hospital setting.  Not only is it important, but it is a requirement by the Joint Commission of American Hospitals (JCAHO).  As a health care professional, you will help provide patients with the means to reach a goal by listening, giving accurate information, using your technical skill, and respecting their right to privacy.  This can be accomplished through patient-centered education.
 This WebQuest was prepared so that you might explore and evaluate several different sources of information enabling you to provide the patient with accurate information regarding their procedure.  It is also designed to help you raise your level of awareness when dealing with possible patient barriers to learning.

THE TASK
 Your role is that of a recently hired Radiological technologist.  You are to perform the following task.
 You are asked to locate, evaluate, and analyze the following different sources of information in obtaining specific data on a Radiology procedure and in identifying patient learning barriers.

Category I – Radiology Procedure.
Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Policy and Procedure Manual
On Staff Radiologist Interview
www sites
Radiology Reference Library
Print Resources
The data that you obtain on your Radiological procedure should include the following areas:
Indications for Procedure
Patient Preparation
Acquisition Protocol
Normal/Abnormal Patterns

Category II – Patient Learning Barriers
Pastoral Care/Interview
Print Resources
The data that you obtain on identifying patient learning barriers should include the following areas:
Patient Assessment
Specific Types of Patient Learning Barriers
You are to give a ten to fifteen minute presentation on your findings/rationale to the class at the end of the week.

THE PROCESS
 You will be working together in a small group of two to three students.  As a group, your job will be to:

1.  Select a Radiology procedure to be investigated.
2.  Research the Department Policy and Procedure Manual, www sites, and the Radiology Reference Library to obtain the following information on your procedure:

Indications for procedure;
Patient preparation;
Acquisition protocol; and
Normal/abnormal patterns.

3.  Arrange an interview with the staff Radiologist to discuss your procedure.  Areas discussed should include A through D listed above.
4.  Contact Hospital Education Department to obtain information on:

How to perform patient assessment;
Specific types of patient learning barriers.

5.  Arrange an interview with a pastoral care provider.  Areas discussed should include A through B listed above.
6.  As a group construct a summary chart evaluating the sources of information using the following criteria:

Availability of resources;
Ease in obtaining the information; and
Timeliness.

7.  As a group discuss and analyze your summations.
8.  Present your individual report and analysis to the class.

Step I
 Each group member should pick a different Radiology procedure to be investigated.
          a.  Select a Radiology procedure; and
          b.  E-mail me your procedure choice by mid week.  My address is  vglueck@hotmail.com

Step II
 Locate the Department Policy and Procedure Manual, the Radiology Reference Library, and the Generations Computer Center.
         a.  Locate your procedure in the Department Policy and Procedure Manual.
         b.  Review a minimum of two references in the Radiology reference Library pertaining to your procedure.
         c.  Log onto the www and locate your procedure and identify patient education sites.
         d.  Find and record the indications for the procedure, patient preparation, acquisition protocol and       normal/abnormal pattern.

Resources
www sites:
Yahoo! Health: Medicine: Radiology: Web Directories -
GeoCities - (good examples of PET imaging)
Patient Education in Nuclear Medicine in HTML Format (patient teaching – scan library)
American College of Radiology Online (radiology specific)
Society of Nuclear Medicine Home Page (nuclear medicine specific)
Nuclear Medicine Browser
Institute for Clinical Pet.: Image of the Month
Society of Nuclear Medicine  - Search

Print resources available in the Radiology Reference Library include Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Technologist Section, and Journal of American College of Radiology.

Step III
 Schedule a time to meet with a staff Radiologist to discuss your procedure.  Limit the interview to ten to fifteen minutes.  The information that you obtain and record should include the following:

Indications
Patient Preparation
Acquisition Protocol
Normal/Abnormal Patterns

Step IV
1.  Contact Hospital Education Department and research www sites to obtain information on:

Patient Education (web sites)
Patient Assessment
Patient Learning Barriers

2.  Record your information.

Resources

 www site:
Patient Education Web Sites – Patient Services, BWH Radiology/Brigham RAD (Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School) http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/patient.html

3.  Print resources available in the Hospital Education Department.

Step V
1.  Schedule an interview with a pastoral care provider.  Areas to be discussed should include:

How to perform patient assessment; and
Specific types of patient learning barriers.

2.  Record your information.

Step VI
1.  As a group construct a summary chart evaluating the sources of information using the following criteria:

Availability of Resources
Ease in Obtaining the Information
Timeliness

2.  Use a scale of 1 through 5:

1 = poor
2 = below average
3 = average
4 = good
5 = excellent

Step VII
1.  As a group discuss and analyze your summations.
2.  Answer the following questions:

Which source was rated the highest?  Why?
Which source was rated the lowest?  Why?

Step VIII
Your presentation should address the following questions:

Which method(s) do you think is/are the best?
Is there only one method or should a combination of different sources be used?
What are five learning barriers that a patient may display?
Why is it important to properly assess the patient for learning barriers?

Time of presentation:  10 to 15 minutes.
You will give your presentation in class at the end of the week.

EVALUATION
Your presentation will be assessed using the following grading rubric:
 

COMPONENT	VALUE	YOUR SCORE	COMMENTS
Explanation/Conclusion of Different Information Channels	25
Individual Contribution	10
Overall Presentation	25
Procedure Selection	20
Identification of Patient Learning Methods	20

Scale

  Excellent  80-100
  Good   70 – 80
  Acceptable  50 – 70
  Poor   < 50

LEARNING ADVICE
 You should call and schedule a time with Generations Computer Center when you plan to do your research.
 Before you go into your interview with the Radiologist, pull two to three teaching file cases on your procedure.  Try to get at least one abnormal study.
 
 

CONCLUSION
 Patients have the right to be educated on any procedure being performed.  The technologist must have the ability to obtain accurate and precise information, which will sometimes aid the patient in making sound decisions regarding their health.  Learning barriers of patients must be identified to ensure the best possible care to the patient.
 After completing this WebQuest you will be familiar with the different sources of information available for the patient and you as a technologist. You will be able to identify learning barriers that prevent patients from receiving the information they deserve.