Communication, Information, and Education for Patients to Increase Knowledge of Diseases: A Literature Review
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Background Effective communication, information, and education (CIE) are essential for enhancing patients and families knowledge about diseases. A structured approach to CIE helps patients make informed decisions, adhere to treatment, and practice safe self-care, ultimately improving safety and reducing preventable complications. Objective This literature review aims to examine and synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of communication, information, and education (CIE) interventions in increasing disease-related knowledge among adult patients, and to identify their implications for patient safety, self-care, and nursing practice. Method This literature review followed the PICO framework, focusing on adult patients (P) receiving communication, information, and education interventions (I), with no comparison group (C), and outcomes measured as increased disease-related knowledge (O). A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL using relevant keywords. Inclusion criteria were studies published in English within the past 10 years involving adult patients and evaluating CIE interventions with knowledge outcomes. Eligible articles were critically appraised, synthesized, and analyzed thematically. Results Ten randomized controlled trials and related studies were included. Findings consistently demonstrated that CIE interventions significantly improved patients disease knowledge, adherence, and self-care behaviors. Interactive methods such as teach-back and nurse-led counseling showed sustained benefits for knowledge retention and patient engagement. Additionally, CIE contributed to improved clinical outcomes, including reduced anxiety, better medication adherence, improved glycemic control in diabetes, and increased screening uptake in breast cancer education programs. Conclusion CIE is a vital component of nursing practice, enhancing patient knowledge, safety, and quality of care. Structured, tailored, and interactive educational interventions should be integrated into standard nursing care to empower patients, reduce complications, and strengthen continuity across care settings.
