Project SHAPE (Students Helping Advocate for Patient Education)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of Project SHAPE was to provide an interdisciplinary workshop for future practitioners from the Colleges of Pharmacy, Medicine and Public Health on health literacy to improve the communication between the patients and their providers. METHODS: Study participants were recruited via email from the Colleges of Pharmacy, Medicine, and Public Health at The University of Arizona. Participants attended a workshop that included a one-hour presentation by Dr. Barry Weiss followed by the development of educational materials on various health topics. A retrospective analysis of the health professional students’ knowledge of health literacy was performed. Materials were provided to El Rio Community Health Center, Colleges of Pharmacy, Medicine and Public Health to distribute to their patients in the Tucson community. RESULTS: Students’ overall knowledge on health literacy and communication with patients improved by 88% after the presentation. A total of nine different low literacy educational materials were developed by the students who attended the workshop. Copies of the educational materials were given to participating students from the other colleges to use in their patient outreach programs. The materials were also distributed to patients at a variety of brown bags, community health fairs, screenings, and El Rio Community Health Center. CONCLUSIONS: Project SHAPE has already affected many future healthcare practitioners through the interdisciplinary workshop. The educational materials will continue to be provided to patients in the Tucson community.