According to the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services, the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group includes any person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. In the U.S., states with the largest Hispanic populations are California, Texas, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico.[1]

Patient education materials in Spanish are paramount to wound care and hyperbaric services looking to offer the highest standards of clinical practice, and can help clinicians save time while engaging patients.

Why is it important to have patient education materials in Spanish? 

• The Hispanic/Latino ethnic group represents almost 20% of the U.S. population.[1] Census 2019 data show that 71.1% of Hispanics speak a language other than English at home and almost 30% of Hispanic/Latinos in the U.S. state that they are not fluent in English.[1]
• Data also show that there are higher rates of obesity among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites, which may contribute to chronic conditions.[1] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the leading causes of illness and death among Hispanics include heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.[1] These comorbidities may also contribute to the development or delayed healing of chronic wounds.
• Some accreditation standards by The Joint Commission focus on patient education and the provision of information in a manner tailored to the patient’s age, language, and ability to understand.[2] See details in topic "Patient Education in Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy".

Where can I find patient education materials in Spanish? 

Medline Plus, an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends maintained by the NIH National Library of Medicine carries a good selection of patient education articles in Spanish. Most are focused on conditions other than chronic wounds, and do not have images. Medline Plus resources can also be accessed through WoundReference MyPower Search with a Free Basic Account.  

Where can I find wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy-specific patient education resources in Spanish? 

Wound care and hyperbaric medicine professional associations often have some patient education materials. To complement these resources, WoundReference has added several wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy-specific patient education content, which can be shared digitally with patients/caregivers, or can be printed and shared as a handout. WoundReference Institutional accounts can also benefit from handouts customized with their own brand and contact information.

Some of the free and premium resources are listed below:

Wound Care

Access with a Free Basic Account:

• When is my wound going to heal?  
• Patient Education - Nutrition for Wound Healing : Understanding the Basics (Spanish) 
• Step-by-step Dressing Education Tool (Spanish) 
  

Access with a PRO or PRO+HBO Account:

• Patient Education - Arterial Ulcer (Spanish) 
  
• Patient Education - Diabetic Foot Ulcer (Spanish) 
• Patient education - Lymphedema (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Pressure Ulcers/ Injuries (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Pyoderma Gangrenosum (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Radiation-induced cutaneous damage - Acute Effects (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Radiation-induced cutaneous damage - Late Effects (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Shower Instructions for People with Wounds (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Skin Tear (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Venous Leg Ulcers (Spanish)
  

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Access with a PRO+HBO Account:

• Patient Education - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Compromised Grafts and Flaps (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcer (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Osteoradionecrosis (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Soft Tissue Radiation Injury (Spanish)
• Patient Education - Prohibited Item Reminder (Spanish)

Resources

• For more information on patient education in Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and 5 tools that can be implemented today to streamline patient education at the point-of-care, see topic "Patient Education in Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy"
• To sign up for a PRO or PRO+HBO account, see Plans.
• For information on branded patient education handouts and more institutional benefits, contact us.