When we first started publishing patient information in AFP , we recognized our readers' need for a reliable source of patient information, but we couldn't have guessed how fast our patient information handouts would gain momentum. In 1994, we published three times more handouts, and from there they skyrocketed, with almost 70 patient information handouts currently published each year. We stepped back to look at our patient information handouts from a bird's-eye view, gathered the latest research on patient information, sought new feedback from our readers, and crafted a new set of standards.
Patients learn and retain more from handouts that are short, easy to read and well illustrated.
We've made a commitment to reduce the length of handouts whenever possible, and we're on the lookout for concepts that are best conveyed through illustrations. We're also reinforcing our editorial processes with extra reviews of handouts by physicians and patients, with the goal of making your jobs as educators just a little bit easier. Many thanks to the readers who responded to the recent patient information survey. From time to time, we'll check back with you to see how well we're doing. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference.