Overview

Quality content is the basis of X-Plain’s success. To ensure quality content, our editorial staff focuses on three main strategies:

1. Ensure all X-Plain content is evidence-based.
2. Use proven instructional strategies based on theories of learning.
3. Address patients’ needs at their specific "point of care."

Evidence-based Content

To ensure our content is evidence-based we adhere to the following principles.

• Develop all content in conjunction with medical experts practicing in leading medical institutions in the USA.
• Provide a list of approved sources of medical information to contributors and medical editors. The list includes selected NIH institutes, academic centers and peer-reviewed medical publications.
• Submit X-Plain for review by at least 3 client specialists at leading medical institutions.
• Review each X-Plain topic annually to ensure it corresponds with specialty practice guidelines.
• Request continuous online feedback from medical experts who use X-Plain with their patients.

Proven Instructional Strategies

Our content goes through several stages of instructional design, with all drafts checked by contributing medical experts. Our instructional design guidelines are:

1. Organize content based on adult learning theories, presenting background information, when needed, to help patients understand more complex health concepts.
2. Employ illustrations and animations that simplify and reinforce concepts using theories of message design.
3. Ask interactive questions and give feedback to ensure understanding.
4. Engage the patient and keep him/her motivated through relevant content, interactive questions and multimedia.
5. Embrace patients at all levels of learning and adhere to “Section 508” accessibility guidelines by employing full narration of the text and touchscreen interfaces.

Focus on Patients’ Needs

Patient needs regarding health information vary depending on their medical condition and the stage of care. The goals of patient education vary from helping patients make a healthcare decision, to teaching self-care skills, promoting healthy lifestyle changes, and providing comfort. To address patients’ needs, X-Plain involves patients in the development of our tutorials. This is done mainly through direct online feedback from real patients using the modules in clinical settings.

Evidence-based medical information that focuses on patient needs provides quality learning that is trusted not only by healthcare providers, but also by patients.