01927nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003000055653001100085653001200096653003100108100001800139700001700157245005500174856005900229300001000288490000700298050003200305520135800337022001401695       1989                            d  c1989 Sep10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aHumans10aleprosy10aPatient Education as Topic1 aMcDougall A C1 aGeorgeiv G D00aEducational material for the patient with leprosy.  uhttp://leprev.ilsl.br/pdfs/1989/v60n3/pdf/v60n3a08.pdf  a221-80 v60  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>This paper addresses the need for suitably written and illustrated material for the patient with leprosy with emphasis on the effective administration of WHO recommended multiple drug therapy (MDT) and the prevention of deformities. The successful implementation of MDT strategy for leprosy control calls for attention to a package of activities, amongst which the education of the patient regarding the disease and its modern treatment may be of crucial importance. Attention is drawn to the steady improvement in educational and literacy levels in many developing countries and to the potential of clearly written instructions for use by patients and staff. The importance of development of educational material in the context of the regional and local cultural milieu is stressed. Eight major 'messages' related to the causation of the disease, the importance of regular clinic attendance for monthly supervised drug administration, compliance to the daily domiciliary drug intake and action for prevention of disability, are proposed. These 'messages' are accompanied by outline drawings which can be used by staff for patient education both at the onset of chemotherapy and on the subsequent clinic attendances. The paper describes broad approaches but underlines the importance of local development of educational material for this purpose.</p>  a0305-7518