Patient Education
Patients with heartburn or other gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms
will come to you for diagnosis and treatment. Many will have already tried over
the counter remedies such as antacids, alginic acid, and low-dose histamine-2
receptor antagonists (H2RAs). Providing them with a good
understanding of acid reflux disease, its causes, symptoms, and treatment, may
be helpful in assuring patient compliance with the treatment regimen you
prescribe.
What patients want to know
Patients will want information on a number of issues including:
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What is GERD?
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What causes GERD?
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What are the sequelae of GERD?
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How can they get relief from their symptoms?
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What tests will they need?
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How often will they need to be seen by you for their GERD?
What educational materials can you give them?
Providing your patients with fact sheets will allow them to review the
information you discuss during the visit, assist them in complying more fully
with instructions, and formulate questions for the next visit.
Acid
Reflux Disease discusses, in a language patients can understand, the
symptoms and cause of GERD. Symptoms described include heartburn, acid reflux,
and dysphagia. The basis of GERD is explained with text and anatomic diagrams.
Heartburn
Facts emphasizes that GERD is a real disease and gives some
epidemiological information so that patients know that this is a common
disease.
Heartburn
Tips is a list of lifestyle modifications that they can make, including
keeping a symptom diary.
Food
Triggers and Tips will help to remind them of foods they should avoid,
to not lie down after eating, and to keep a food diary.
Doctor
Visits is a list of tips for patients to assist them in making the most
of their visit. They are encouraged to come prepared with a list of questions
to ask them at the beginning of the visit. They should be specific, keep the
diary and bring it with them, and repeat instructions back to you to be sure
they understand them.
A Symptom
Diary will aid in establishing an effective individualized regimen for
each patient.
Educational Web Sites
For those of you who have patients who want to know more about GERD, the
following are some Web sites you could consider recommending:
Medline Plus
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
This Web site is produced by the National Library of Medicine and the National
Institutes of Health. It is a health information center for consumers. Patients
can read about health topics, access a medical encyclopedia, read about
medications, and get health news.
Mayo Clinic Consumer Health
www.mayoclinic.com
This is a consumer health Web site produced by the Mayo Clinic. It provides
information on diseases and conditions, suggestions for a healthier lifestyle,
information on medications, health assessment tools, books, newsletters,
essays, and more.
Accent Health
www.accenthealth.com
This Web site has information on a variety of health and wellness topics,
articles, tips, interactive tools, and support groups.
GERD Diet
www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs03.htm
This site provides good, detailed information about diet and lifestyle changes
that may help GERD symptoms.
Health A to Z
www.healthatoz.com
This site gives information on a variety of diseases. The digestive disease
library provides information, a glossary, and suggestions for healthier eating
habits.
iVillage
www.allhealth.com
This is a general health site. There is a medical encyclopedia, special site
areas for certain conditions, daily health news, chat rooms, and information on
current research.