Date of Graduation
Spring 2015
Degree
Master of Arts in Writing
Department
English
Committee Chair
Kristene Sutliff
Abstract
Nearly all humans, throughout the course of their life, have been diagnosed with everything from a mild cold, to a viral infection, or perhaps a diagnosis of a chronic condition. Upon experiencing symptoms, patients are exposed to a plethora of information. The Internet holds home remedies, for those wary of the doctor's office, or there are advice boards where people share their experiences, trials, and tribulations. In some cases, the doctor is the purveyor of the information and written materials are sent home with the patient dictating the regimen to follow to achieve wellness. However, some patients, particularly ulcerative colitis patients, find themselves without these written materials and without access to health information specifically tailored to their needs. Patients must forage for information while trying to maintain their health after diagnosis. This study explores the holes in the information-sharing process through interviews and surveys, focusing specifically on patients, technical medical writers, and gastroenterologists. The study finds most ulcerative colitis patients do not receive the information they need.
Keywords
patient education, patient materials, ulcerative colitis, technical medical writer, gastroenterologist, information foraging theory
Subject Categories
Creative Writing
Copyright
© Amanda Morgan
Recommended Citation
Morgan, Amanda, "Bridging the Information Gap for Ulcerative Colitis Patients" (2015). MSU Graduate Theses. 2934.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/2934
