Patient information page template

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]

Introduction

  • The goal of the patient information page is to give a comprehensive description of the disease for a patient.
  • It should be written at a 5th to 8th grade reading level, and if medical terminology is used, it should be explained.
  • Examples of patient information pages that are good references, are the pages on Chronic stable angina here, and Pericarditis here.
  • Follow the format, headings, and capitalizations of letters as outlined below in the template.
  • Only capitalize the disease name if it is a proper noun, meaning someones name (eg, Lou-Gherig's disease, Alport syndrome, Addison's disease)
  • The title of the page should be: Disease name (patient information). Only the first letter of the heading is capitalized.

Overview

  • This section should give a brief description of the disease, and have the name of the disease in the first sentence.
  • For an example of the overview section of a patient page, click here

What are the symptoms of (disease name)?

  • Here you can list the symptoms that the patient may notice. Remember that signs are different from symptoms.
  • For an example of the symptoms section in a patient information page, click here.

What causes (disease name)?

  • Here you can list the causes of the disease. Remember this is what causes the disease, not what the disease causes.
  • For an example of the causes section on a patient information page, click here.