Transform your readers’ health with the power of effective patient education
How to Write Patient Education Materials will teach you how to create impactful health content that truly engages and educates your readers. In just three weeks, you will learn how to write explainer content about health topics, medications, treatments and procedures.
- Learn how to explain health topics clearly and concisely
- Enhance your readers’ health literacy
- Create reader engagement and trust
- Pinpoint the key info your readers need from a patient handout
- Edit and refine your work
- Become part of a growing movement of health writers dedicated to improving patient education!
By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create effective patient education materials. Plus, you’ll complete your own patient handout and receive personalised feedback to enhance your writing!
Hello! I’m Michelle Guillemard, founder of Health Writer Hub.
I’m an experienced medical writer with nearly two decades of industry expertise. My CPD-certified medical writing courses are designed for both newcomers and experienced writers, offering the tools and support needed to create clear, ethical health content.
Since 2013, I’ve helped thousands of writers from over 50 countries sharpen their skills and grow their careers in medical writing. In an age of AI, I also guide writers on using new technologies responsibly while upholding high standards of quality and credibility.
Who is this course for?
How to Write Patient Education Materials is an online course for health communicators who want to learn how to write clear, effective patient education materials. Whether you’re crafting resources for clinics, hospitals or online platforms, this course will teach you how to simplify complex medical information and create materials that empower patients to understand their health and treatment options. It’s perfect for both freelance writers and those in or seeking full-time roles in healthcare communication.
- Writers and content creators who want to enhance their patient education skills
- Health professionals aiming to create effective educational resources for patients
- Communications professionals wanting to improve clarity and engagement in health content
- Marketers seeking to develop impactful patient-focused marketing materials
- Researchers interested in translating complex information into accessible content for patients
Here’s what you’ll learn
How to Write Patient Education Materials teaches you how to:
- Explain complex medical topics clearly and concisely
- Answer your readers’ key health questions
- Provide the right amount of information without overwhelming readers
- Plan and structure your writing
- Write content that your readers remember and action
- Choose the most appropriate language for your health topic
- Improve your readers’ health literacy skills.
Michelle is definitely a leader in this field … highly recommended
“These courses (Introduction to Health Writing and How to Write Patient Education Materials) through Health Writer Hub are very comprehensive and explain the details of becoming a health content writer. Michelle is amazing with the way she breaks the entire process down and answers every question asked. She is definitely a leader in this field and I highly recommend all of her courses for anyone who needs assistance getting their foot in the door or if you need to update your current knowledge in the field.”
Tila Broadway, USA
What to expect
Here’s how it works.
Flexible learning
- Learn at your own pace
Work through the lessons at a schedule that suits you – no rush! - Access from anywhere
Join from anywhere in the world, whether at home or on the go. - Lifetime access
Enjoy unlimited access, so you can revisit lessons whenever you need a refresher.
Personalised feedback and guidance
- Direct support
Email your teacher whenever you have questions for quick assistance. - Build your confidence
Write a patient handout and get personalised feedback to improve your skills!
I feel more confident now and I am ready to get to work!
“After I completed a 16-week course on how to transition to nurse writing, Michelle’s course How to Write Patient Education Materials filled in many gaps in my learning process. From how to get ready to write the materials to actually writing them. She covered the basic mechanics first and then covered the step-by-step process of writing, high-quality, evidence-based patient educational materials. I feel more confident now and I am ready to get to work! Thank you Michelle for an excellent course. I look forward to taking other courses from you in the future.”
Nelli Webster, MSN, RN, NP-C, USA
Key inclusions
Industry-leading resources to help you write high-quality patient handouts and educational materials.
- 12 comprehensive lessons (audio lectures AND text modules) meeting the core learning objectives
- Regular live Q&A calls to answer any questions and keep everyone on track
- 3 patient handout templates for writing about health topics, procedures and medications
- 14 free health writing webinars to enhance your learning objectives
- 25 handouts full of best-practice resources
- Downloadable audio lectures and lecture notes
- One assessed patient handout writing task to put the learnings into practice
- CPD accreditation for your annual CPD requirements
- Lively student-only Facebook group of 1400+ writers
- Ongoing access to course updates
- 1:1 support for every student
- Health Writer Hub Alumni membership including free webinars
- Loyalty discounts giving you 30% off every other course
- World-class eLearning platform for a seamless learning experience.
Course outline
How to Write Patient Education Materials includes 12 lessons plus one writing assignment.
Part 1: Understanding patient education materials
- What are patient education materials?
Gain an understanding of the purpose of patient education materials, explore the difference between education and promotion, and learn about the wide variety of patient handout options. - The importance of defining the ideal reader of your patient material.
Discover how and why educating patients involves understanding their needs and key questions. - Planning and context.
Learn how to effectively plan your patient education material and consider the key factors that influence your writing choices, such as format and context.
Part 2: Structure, research and language
- How to structure a patient handout (with templates).
Determine the most appropriate structure for your patient education materials. Explore a variety of options for effective structure and get templates to help you write your patient education materials. - Conducting effective research for your patient handout.
Books, journal articles, websites or interviews? Learn the key sources you should rely on – and those you should avoid – when you’re researching for your patient handout. - People, not patients – using the right language.
The language you use in your writing can engage or alienate your readers, so discover how to help – not harm – your readers’ comprehension.
Part 3: Health literacy, readability and engagement
- Improving health literacy.
Explore the relationship between health literacy and patient education and learn techniques to help improve your readers’ health literacy skills. - How to write readable patient education materials.
Discover the essential readability techniques that will ensure your handout is easy to read, understand, follow and remember. - How to write original, engaging content.
There are so many patient education materials online, so how can you make yours different? Learn strategies for creating unique content about common topics.
Part 4: Referencing, editing and future strategies
- Referencing options. Discover how to effectively reference your handouts and materials in both online and offline formats.
- Effective editing and proofreading strategies.
Learn how to edit and proofread your work efficiently – even when you have limited time. - Next steps and resources.
Consolidate all the techniques in this course and develop strategies to monitor your materials in the future.
Part 5: Writing assignment
- Write a patient handout on a topic of your choice using all the techniques you’ve learned in this course.
- Send your handout to Michelle after you’ve completed the course.
- Get personalised feedback and tips for improvement.
- Use your patient handout in your portfolio to show prospective clients and employers.
Bonus inclusions!
Exclusive templates, checklists, planners and extra hours of online learning.
- The 2024 Health Writing Template Package – save time and write better content faster with 30+ new health writing templates
- The Freelance Health Writer Business Planner – map out your freelance career transition confidently with our detailed planner
- The 110 Websites That Accept Health Article Pitches Guide – a comprehensive list of websites that accept article pitches and guest posts from health writers
- 14 Webinars – webinar topics include quoting for jobs, finding clients, CV writing, finding employed work, website essentials, subcontracting, marketing and more!
An incredibly supportive, helpful, and diverse group of professionals
"One of the most useful parts of taking the How to Write Patient Education Materials course was the connection to the Health Writer Hub alumni community and Facebook Group. It is an incredibly supportive, helpful, and diverse group of professionals with a passion for health literacy. They have provided great professional advice and even employment opportunities for me."
Amy Harris, USA
Join a supportive group of like-minded health writers
When you join How to Write Patient Education Materials, you become a member of the Health Writer Hub Alumni – a smart, diverse and friendly community of 1400+ health writers from around the world. Alumni benefits include:
- Loyalty discounts – 30% off any other Health Writer Hub course
- Writing challenges – goals to keep you motivated and accountable
- Global networking – connect with health writers from around the world
- A supportive network of health writers – ask questions and share advice
- Immediate access – join the group as soon as you sign up.
Very informative, effective and valuable
"I am extremely proud to announce that I found How to Write Patient Education Materials very informative, effective and valuable in learning about how to write patient education materials. There is a well-organized planner to help you order your thoughts when planning what information to put in the health education materials about the health topic of your choice and lectures which tell you what to how and what to or not to write. I enjoyed the lessons and lectures which were very attention-getting and interesting."
Karon King, USA
Your teacher
Who I am, and why I want to help you succeed.
Hello again! I’m Michelle Guillemard, founder of Health Writer Hub and long-time patient education writer. For the past 10 years, I’ve written patient education for hospitals and health professionals about virtually every health topic you can think of: cancer, heart disease, rare disease, primary care concerns, medications, treatments, procedures. I’ve studied the craft and learned what works (as well as what doesn’t). I even won an award for my patient education materials!
Quality patient education materials can change lives and improve health outcomes. But many people struggle to write clear patient information. I want to make the patient education writing process easier for everyone, and that’s why I created this course.
In just 12 lessons, I'll teach you a straightforward writing process you can apply to any health topic! So let me break it down for you. In How to Write Patient Education Materials, I'll show you how to write a useful, engaging and readable handout that will help your readers improve their health literacy skills and manage their health. If you're ready to learn effective techniques for writing patient handouts and information, How to Write Patient Education Materials is the course for you!
My teaching method
I teach this course, and all my courses, through a combination of audio lectures (podcast style) and text resources. I also offer a range of video content, including bonus webinars and regular student interviews.
After experimenting with different combinations over the years and listening to student feedback, I am confident that delivering lectures in both audio AND text format is the most effective way for you to learn health writing in an online class environment.
While it’s up to you how you consume the content, you are welcome to:
- listen and read the transcripts at the same time
- listen and take your own notes
- listen away from your computer
- read the transcripts only.
Many students have told me that they like to listen to the lectures while driving, walking, hiking, running or cleaning the house – and, that’s fine as well!
Certified and accredited
Accredited for quality and standards.
How to Write Patient Education Materials is an approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course, independently accredited with the CPD Certification Service – one of the world’s leading independent CPD accreditation institutions.
As an accredited medical writing course, How to Write Patient Education Materials meets the required standard of CPD at a global level. The course’s learning value and structure conform to global CPD guidelines and principles, complementing the CPD policies of professional institutes and academic bodies.
Student feedback
Read student reviews.
Thank you for enriching my learning experiences
"Instant and continuous feedback is crucial for any skill development, and all courses from Health Writer Hub deliver exactly that. I recently completed the How to Write Patient Education Materials course and I couldn't be more grateful for the incredible guidance and feedback from our fantastic teacher, Michelle Guillemard! It focused on the art of planning, structuring, and crafting patient educational materials that resonate with readers, making it easier for them to understand, remember, and take action. One of the key takeaways from this course is the emphasis on viewing patients as people first. The power of language in our writing can either empower or hinder the comprehension of our readers. In my journey through this course, I explored the power of tone, empathy, and understanding in writing patient materials. I had the privilege of working on an educational piece for women with PCOS, where I strived to approach their situations with compassion and encouragement. Thank you, Michelle for your amazing guidance, for walking me through in all your courses and enriching my learning experiences."
Humayera Hana Kabir, Bangladesh
Extremely interesting and practical
"I can confirm that the course was extremely interesting and it provided very substantial knowledge and practical skills to write patient education materials."
Marusya Peeva, Bulgaria
The results were beyond rewarding
"Enrolling in the Health Writer Hub courses ( Breaking Into Health Writing, Principles of Health & Medical Copywriting, Introduction to Health Writing, How to Write Patient Education Materials) has been a transformative experience for my writing. It sharpened my focus on delivering valuable health information to readers. These courses have been an invaluable source of knowledge, equipping me with practical skills and actual documents to enhance my portfolio. Engaging and enjoyable, the course materials present information in a captivating format. They offer a wealth of insights and hands-on exercises, ensuring a challenging yet flexible learning experience. I conquered each task through diligent effort at my own pace, and the results were beyond rewarding. These courses have truly elevated my health writing skills to new heights."
Paul Penman, UK
A comprehensive course
"How to Write Patient Education Materials is a comprehensive course, covering a variety of aspects of writing patient education materials. It was also great to have Michelle's responses to homework tasks and general questions, along with interaction with other students."
Kate Marsh, Australia
Frequently asked questions
What you need to know.