The following study focuses on the implementation of the ‘teach-back’ method within investigations of the procedure regarding patient outcomes. While limited research currently exists on the topic, variables such as chances of hospitalization and the duration of hospital stay within the populations of patients that have experienced ambulatory care sensitive conditions, or ACSC, were analyzed (Hong et al., 2019). Over three thousand adult patients with a variety of conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, asthma, and type 2 diabetes were available for the study. The results revealed that patients who have a background with teach-back methods would be more likely to experience admission related to ACSC but have lower rates of readmission. The median stay in a hospital was not different for patients with or without teach-back experience. Further analysis illustrated that there was a stable association between teach-back experience and outcomes among patients with ACSCs. The findings of the study indicate that there is a connection between the reduced risk of hospital admission for individuals with ACSCs and teach-back experience.
In a study that aims to assess the efficiency of guidelines such as the Newest Vital Sign (NVS), Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS) questionnaire, and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) among patients with hypertension, a similar format can be applied (Weiss, 2018). Patients can be categorized as having experience with teach-back procedures and those that do not. Additionally, their knowledge of the aforementioned guidelines would also have to be monitored. As such a number of subgroups will exist in the study for each guideline and for experience with teach-back practices. As the study focuses on an out-patient setting, hospitalization and readmission can be replaced with the initial attendance and later visit to a clinic.
References
Hong, Y. R., Cardel, M., Suk, R., Vaughn, I. A., Deshmukh, A. A., Fisher, C. L., Pavela, G., & Sonawane, K. (2019). Teach-Back Experience and Hospitalization Risk Among Patients with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: a Matched Cohort Study. Journal of general internal medicine, 34(10), 2176–2184.
Weiss, B. D. (2018). The Newest Vital Sign: Frequently Asked Questions. Health Literacy Research and Practice, 2(3), 125-127.