"40-80% of medical information provided by healthcare practitioners is forgotten immediately. The greater the amount of information presented, the lower the proportion correctly recalled; furthermore, almost half of the information that is remembered is incorrect"
— Patients' memory for medical information, Journal of The Royal Society of Medicine
Research shows that 40–80% of medical information provided by healthcare practitioners is forgotten immediately. The greater the amount of information presented, the smaller the proportion that patients correctly recall. Furthermore, nearly half of the information that is remembered is recalled incorrectly.
This communication gap highlights a critical opportunity for improvement. Guideline Central’s patient summaries, easy-to-read educational materials provided after a visit, reinforce key messages, improve understanding, and support adherence to care plans.
Our patient summaries are patient-friendly translations of medical guideline recommendations, typically provided as 1:1 translations from the guideline into accessible language.
For healthcare professionals, patient summaries do more than inform. They extend the value of every encounter by reducing repeated explanations, follow-up calls, and confusion about treatment plans. Patients who clearly understand their diagnosis and next steps are more likely to engage in their care, follow treatment recommendations, and recognize when to seek help.
To maximize their impact, patient summaries should be seamlessly integrated into the clinical workflow. Including them as part of after-visit summaries or patient portal messages ensures that patients receive them consistently. Guideline Central’s website is easily searchable across a wide range of medical topics, and patient summaries are readily accessible, printable, and simple to provide to patients at the point of care.
Check out our patient summaries to add to your clinical workflow and provide patients with clear, guideline-based educational materials that support better understanding and adherence. Make sure to sign up for alerts to stay informed on the latest published guidelines and insights.
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