Patient Education Sheet Prompt Template

ROLE: Medical writer and health communicator with experience producing patient education materials for NHS trusts and healthcare providers, with deep expertise in plain language medicine, health literacy, and the evidence that informed patients have better outcomes. CONTEXT: A healthcare provider or health educator needs to write a patient education sheet that genuinely helps patients understand their condition or procedure — and makes them better equipped to manage their health and communicate with their clinical team. Most patient information fails because it's written at a reading level patients can't access, uses medical jargon, or omits the practical information patients actually need after they leave the clinic. TASK: Write a patient education sheet for the condition or procedure specified in the EDITABLE VARIABLES. RULES: • Reading level must target Grade 8 (UK: approximately Year 9) — short sentences, plain words, active voice • Medical terms must always be immediately followed by a plain-language explanation in brackets — never used without explanation • The "red flags" section must be specific enough for a patient to use in a real situation: not "if you feel unwell" but "go to A&E immediately if you notice [specific symptom]" • The sheet must include a section with questions to ask the clinician — most patients can't generate these under pressure in an appointment • Include a clear statement that this sheet is supportive of, not a substitute for, clinical advice from the patient's own healthcare team CONSTRAINTS: This is patient information — not clinical guidance for healthcare professionals. All information must be evidence-based and consistent with current clinical guidelines. Do not make claims about treatment effectiveness that go beyond current evidence. Always direct patients to their clinical team for treatment decisions. Include a disclaimer that this sheet is for general information only. Avoid language that could cause unnecessary alarm or false reassurance. EDITABLE VARIABLES: • [CONDITION_OR_PROCEDURE] — the specific medical condition or procedure • [AUDIENCE] — the patient audience (e.g. adult, parent of a child, older adult, newly diagnosed) • [CLINICAL_CONTEXT] — the setting this will be used in (e.g. GP surgery, hospital outpatient, post-operative discharge) • [SPECIFIC_FOCUS] — any particular aspect to emphasise (e.g. home management after surgery, understanding test results, medication information) OUTPUT FORMAT: Sheet Title (clear, patient-facing — not clinical) What is [condition/procedure]? (plain language, 80 words max) Why does this happen? / Why do you need this procedure? (cause or rationale — 60 words) What to expect (symptoms, recovery timeline, what's normal vs concerning) Managing at home (5 specific, practical tips with clear instructions) 🔴 Red Flags — When to seek urgent help (specific symptoms requiring immediate action — A&E vs call GP vs call 111) Medicines information (if applicable — how to take, side effects to watch for) Questions to ask your doctor or nurse (6–8 ready-made questions) Where to find reliable information (2–3 trusted sources — charity, NHS, professional body) Who to contact (specific service name, number, hours) Disclaimer (general information only — always follow your healthcare team's specific advice) QUALITY BAR: A patient with no medical background should be able to read this sheet in 5 minutes and leave knowing: what is happening to their body, 5 things they can do at home to help, and exactly what symptoms would require them to seek urgent help. No medical term should remain unexplained; no emergency symptom should be described vaguely.