They don't remember what you told them. Marjorie Lazoff, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., agreed. Gil Solomon, MD, a family physician in Canoga Park, Calif., said that more information can be conveyed in writing than in spoken words. Handouts reinforce messages and give more complete information than one can talk about during a brief visit.
Some people learn better from reading than listening.
Lastly, the person in the office may not be the patient. In the case of many men, their wives may want to know what is going on and they may not remember to tell them everything that was mentioned during their visit. One reason to invest in software is that handouts are a proven, effective way to deliver instructions to patients. If the instructions are shared with friends and neighbors involved in helping the patient, that can further improve compliance. Handouts are effective not only because they provide information and raise compliance.