Teach-back is a check of your success in communicating information to patients/family members. It involves asking patients to explain back information in their own words.
Teach-back is an evidence-based health literacy intervention. It promotes patient engagement, patient safety, adherence and quality. (AHRQ Teach-Back Implementation Quick Start Guide)
Use this guide to learn more about teach-back and how to use it effectively with patients.
Teach-back method – example of teaching on using an inhaler (2:31)
Teach back videos from teachback.org - a series of short videos demonstrating why teach-back is important and how to do it effectively within different clinical situations (1-3 minutes each).
* Note: You may need use Internet Explorer to access
* Note: You may need to use Internet Explorer to access
Anderson JL, Dodman S, Kopelman M, et al. Patient information recall in a rheumatology clinic. Rheumatology 1979 18(1):18-22.
Dinh H, Bonner A, Clark R, et al. The effectiveness of the teach-back method on adherence and self-management in health education for people with chronic disease: a systematic review. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep 2016;14(1):210-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.11124/jbisrir-2016-2296. Accessed September 15, 2016.
Kessels R. Patients’ memory for medical information. J R Soc 2003:96:219-222.
Schillinger D, Piette J, Grumbach K, et al. Closing the loop: physician communication with diabetic patients who have low health literacy. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163(1):83-90. Available at: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/1/83. Accessed: June 29, 2012.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.(2010). National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. Washington, DC. Available at: http://www.health.gov/communication/hlactionplan/pdf/Health_Literacy_Action_Plan.pdf. Accessed: November 29, 2016.
Zolnierek KB, DiMatteo MR. Physician communication and patient adherence to treatment: a meta-analysis. Med Care 2009 Aug;47(8):826.
To arrange a workshop or presentation on teach-back at Unity Health Toronto, please contact the Patient and Family Education Program at patienteducation@smh.ca