Aim and objectives:
Teach-Back is an activity in which learners teach each other what they have learned, for instance, by using verbal explanations, demonstrations, and skits.
Target group:
According to the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Teach-back is a technique for health care providers to ensure that they have explained medical information clearly so that patients and their families understand what is communicated to them. This intervention includes several materials to support adoption.
Method:
The method is a way of checking understanding by asking patients to state in their own words what they need to know or do about their health and to confirm that things have been explained in a manner that patients understand. Teach-back can be applied whenever explaining important and complex concepts to patients about their health care, such as a new diagnosis, medication, home care instructions, treatment plans, behavioural change recommendations, the use of new devices, treatment options and follow-up instructions.
Outcomes:
The resources needed for Teach-back are modest. Health providers can implement Teach-back as part of their regular duties. The time of implementation using this practice is minimal in the short run and can save much time in the long run.
Added value:
Using Teach-back systematically will help remove barriers and challenges to improve communication and processes.
