Introduction
The Joint Commission, which is an independent, non-profit organization, is involved in accreditation and certification of health care organizations and programs in the United States. To follow its mission which implies improvement of health care for the public, the Commission refreshes its Speak Up program in 2018 (The Joint Commission, 2018a). The program provides educational materials covering diverse burning health issues and aims to stimulate the activity of patients and their advocates in their care. One of the brochures issued by the Joint Commission is dedicated to depression. The following review is dedicated to the analysis and evaluation of “Speak Up: What You Should Know about Depression” brochure.
Summary of the Brochure
The major problem covered by the brochure is adult depression. It discusses such important topics as the major issues about this disorder and its treatment. Speaking in more detail, the issues that help to diagnose depression in adults include warning signs of depression, people who can be affected, and information about how and where help can be obtained (The Joint Commission, 2018b). The problem of treatment is reflected in comprehensive blocks. Thus, a person can find information about treatment options, perspectives of getting better without treatment, significant aspects of depression therapy, and the medicines applied. Moreover, the brochure includes tips on opportunities for getting help from a family member or friend (The Joint Commission, 2018b). Also, it includes directions for individuals who already feel better to ensure they can return to daily routines. Finally, the brochure has useful links where readers can find more information.
The brochure encourages communication between patients and healthcare providers by presenting the role of a doctor and timely diagnosing. For example, it states that in case an individual has certain disturbing symptoms, a doctor can help determine what is going on, the reasons for these events, and how to help (The Joint Commission, 2018b). Moreover, the brochure encourages asking a doctor or a therapist for advice on where to start a usual life after a person feels better.
Evaluation of the Brochure
The brochure is well-organized, and the information is presented logically. The first block introduces the problem of adult depression focusing on the fact that this condition is common but serious. It is followed by the warning signs thus allowing a person to check if he or she has any of depression manifestations. The block about depression causes provides a person with an opportunity to analyze recent events and find possible factors that led to depression. The section about treatment is detailed and informative disclosing the aspects of treatment available for every patient. On the whole, the brochure is well-done. Still, its design is not appealing and thus can be improved.
The topic of depression interests me because it is one of the wide-spread conditions in contemporary society. Still, it is not accepted as a serious problem by many people. Consequently, depression is not treated properly or not treated at all by many individuals, which can lead to serious complications including suicide. Therefore, the problem should be discussed, and the people should be informed about its signs and opportunities for treatment.
The information provided in the brochure is beneficial for both healthcare providers and patients. I believe it can be successfully incorporated into patient education. The format of the brochure makes it easy to spread information among patients and caregivers. The information is presented clearly. In most of the blocks, bullet points are used to make information more comprehensible. Short and medium-length sentences are used, which makes the text easy to read and understand for any person.
There are no data about current nursing or healthcare related research to support the information presented in the brochure. Still, the introductory block contains stakeholders that were involved in developing the brochure where some organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association or National Alliance on Mental Illness are mentioned. These associations provide research, and it can be supposed that research data were used to develop the brochure on depression.
The brochure focuses on the aspects of adult depression. Consequently, adults who are at risk of developing this disorder will benefit the most. Also, this information can be used by family members of individuals with signs of depression and by nurses as a part of patient education. The information presented in the brochure has a potential to increase patient safety. It can be achieved due to timely diagnosing as a result of symptom awareness among the adult population. Moreover, suitable treatment and information about consulting options are likely to reduce suicidal behaviors.
Conclusion
On the whole, the brochure on depression is a well-organized and informative tool. It is expected to assist people in determining the warning signs of this disorder thus allowing timely diagnosing and suitable treatment. Consequently, the brochure meets National Patient Safety Goals and can be used not only by individuals with symptoms of depression but by their family members and community nurses in the process of patient education.
References
The Joint Commission. (2018a).About the Joint Commission. Web.
The Joint Commission. (2018b). Speak up: What you should know about depression [Brochure]. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: The Joint Commission.