Design Medical Presentation Folders That Improve Patient Engagement

Imagine a patient visiting a hospital for the first time with anxiety over an unexpected diagnosis. As the doctor explains a complex condition, the patient struggles to absorb the information, overwhelmed by unfamiliar medical terminology. This scenario is all too common, but it highlights a critical need in healthcare: the importance of clear, accessible communication.

To alleviate patients’ anxiety and engage them better during explanations, provide documented information. A study discovered that patient knowledge improved when given written information. Go a step further for your patients and provide documents that they can take home in presentation folders to read up on their condition or prescribed medication. However, don’t stuff documents haphazardly into a plain folder; create an educational tool that engages patients and explains their situation clearly with these design tips.

Incorporate positive imagery, critical information and graphs

A patient wouldn’t be very enticed to open a white folder with black lettering for the title, ‘Everything about the Flu’; they’d feel like their disease was terminal before reading the contents inside. When creating helpful healthcare materials, focus on positive imagery, providing contact information, and critical graphics that communicate a sense of optimism about the healing process. 

Positive imagery

The cover, the first part of the folder that the patient lays their eyes on, should have a warm image. Instead of using photos of patients presented sickly in hospital beds or lying on the operating table, show joyous people in recovery living actively. The design should be bright, putting a pep in the patient’s step toward healing. Optimism is the goal. 

Imagery can be a powerful tool itself. John Hopkins Medicine posits that just seeing an image can reduce a patient’s pain. For instance, people imagine sounds, locations, smells, and tastes to alleviate symptoms of a disease or injury psychologically. Doing so allows patients to take control of their current situation. Using imagery in your folder will help patients feel more hopeful about the healing process.

There are two types of imagery that doctors have patients use: palming and guided imagery. 

Palming

Palming involves a patient quite literally palming their face to cover their eyes. First, the patient visualizes a color that stresses them. Then, they imagine a hue that brings them comfort, relaxing their mind. It’s a very simple exercise that can help ease a patient’s anxiety. Designing a folder with a soothing color like blue will help make materials more approachable, signaling that the material is stress-free. 

Guided Imagery

In a similar vein, guided imagery requires the patient to lie down and imagine they’re in a peaceful place. Popular locations are a beach or meadow. This practice helps a patient cope with their situation. Including images of a beach or meadow in your folder design can have the same effect on patients who approach your materials.

Critical information and graphs

Outside of actual photos, include critical information and graphs in the presentation folder design. Information such as contact info for the clinic or hospital and a web address for more in-depth explanations should be displayed on the back or inside pockets of the folder. Likewise, charts or graphs help engage patients by giving them a meaningful visualization of data.

Contact information

A phone number or web address should be prominently incorporated into the design. That doesn’t mean the information should be large and obstruct other design elements. Simply select a location where patients are most likely to search for the information. Common areas are the back of the presentation folder, the bottom of the front cover, and the inside pockets. The information should be large enough and in a color that is easily read.

Graphs and charts

The back of the presentation folder or the inside pockets are the best locations for a graph or chart. The back has enough space to make the graph as big as needed for the data to be interpretable. On the other hand, round charts fit well on the pockets, allowing patients’ eyes to move from the data to the documents.

Organizing the contents inside

Moving from the design of the folder to the documents within, the content must be organized in the way that you would like the patients to learn information. Begin with the basics, introducing them to the concept of the disease or medication, then move to more complex explanations like treatment, building on what came before. Design aspects such as headers can help clearly delineate the hierarchy in documents, making it easy to keep patients engaged.

Table of contents

To help guide a patient through the documents and engage with documents at their own pace, one of the pockets should include a sheet that lists the contents of each document. Doing so allows patients to go directly to the information that is most pressing for them, follow the hierarchy you’ve outlined for them, and ensure no information is missed.

Headers, tabs, and images

Both headers and tabs help improve engagement with the contents by providing a clear path for reading. On the documents themselves, there should be a clear indication of what each is about. Headers and tabs are your best friend in this situation since they signify the title of a paper. For example, a document about treatment should have a header or tab titled ‘Treatment’ to help patients not become lost in information. 

Images

While headers and tabs can present titles with words, images can visualize the purpose of a document. This visualization benefits the meaning-making process for patients, giving them the ability to relate what they’re reading to an image of a specific scenario. Furthermore, images are important since they engage patients better, breaking up walls of text.

Conclusion

After a doctor hands a patient a presentation folder designed with soothing color and positive imagery, the patient will read through the amazingly organized documents inside while listening to the explanation. The patient will be less anxious, given the chance to absorb information at their own pace. Medical presentation folders that engage patients more efficiently should be included in every hospital’s toolkit for patient care.