DESIGNING AND EVALUATING PRINTED EDUCATION MATERIALS - MODEL AND INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT

Printed education materials (PEMs) are among the most economical and frequently used methods for educating individuals about health matters. This paper describes the pilot test of the Evaluating Printed Education Materials (EPEM) model and the self-report questionnaire, A Survey of Patient Educators to Elicit Criteria for the Evaluation of Printed Materials. This nonexperimental design study is preliminary to future methodological research to establish the validity and reliability of an evaluating PEM instrument. A convenience sample of 11 patient educators established content validity of the model by ranking 90% of criteria as Very Important or Important to PEM quality. The lowest level of agreement was on the Educational Content criteria (76%). A second pilot test of the EPEM model using an experimental design will be used to construct an instrument that acknowledges quality distinctions among evaluation criteria. A valid and reliable instrument will substantiate and measure the indicators of PEM's quality and thereby improve efficiency and outcome in patient education. © 1991.