Patient Communication with AI
Create clear, patient-friendly explanations of radiation therapy, treatment plans, and educational materials.
- Translate medical terminology into patient-friendly language
- Create effective treatment explanations
- Draft after-visit summaries
- Develop educational materials for common scenarios
Clear patient communication improves outcomes, satisfaction, and adherence to treatment. AI can help translate complex medical information into accessible language.
Benefits of AI-Assisted Patient Communication:
- Consistency: Ensure all patients receive complete information
- Accessibility: Adapt reading levels and languages
- Efficiency: Generate drafts quickly for physician review
- Customization: Tailor content to specific patient scenarios
Important Principle:
AI-generated patient materials should always be reviewed by a clinician before use. AI may:
- Oversimplify to the point of inaccuracy
- Include information not relevant to the specific patient
- Miss important nuances or warnings
- Use language that doesn't match your patient population
Most patient education materials should be written at a 6th-8th grade reading level. AI can help achieve this, but needs guidance.
Effective Prompts for Plain Language:
Explain [concept] in simple terms that a patient with no medical background could understand. Avoid medical jargon. Use short sentences. Aim for a 6th-grade reading level.Before (Medical Language):
"You will receive hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivering 50 Gy in 5 fractions to the pulmonary lesion with appropriate PTV margins accounting for respiratory motion."
After (Patient-Friendly):
"You will have a type of radiation treatment called SBRT. This uses very precise, high-dose radiation beams aimed at the spot on your lung. You'll have 5 treatment sessions over about 2 weeks. Each session takes about 30-45 minutes, though the actual radiation is only a few minutes. We use special techniques to account for your breathing during treatment."
Key Techniques:
- Replace jargon with everyday words
- Explain the "why" not just the "what"
- Use analogies when helpful
- Include practical information (what to expect, how long)
- Break complex ideas into smaller pieces
Prompt:
Write a patient-friendly explanation of what to expect during whole brain radiation therapy. The patient will receive 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Include: why it's recommended, what happens during treatment, common side effects, and self-care tips. Use simple language suitable for patients without medical background. Keep it warm and reassuring while being honest about side effects.AI-Generated Content (for review):
Understanding Your Whole Brain Radiation Therapy
Why This Treatment?
Your doctor has recommended radiation therapy to your brain to treat cancer that has spread there. This treatment can help control the cancer, reduce symptoms, and improve your quality of life.
What Happens During Treatment?
- You'll come for treatment once a day, Monday through Friday, for two weeks (10 treatments total).
- Each visit takes about 15-30 minutes, but the actual radiation is only a few minutes.
- You'll lie on a treatment table with a custom mask that keeps your head still. The mask fits snugly but you can breathe normally.
- The machine moves around you but doesn't touch you. You won't feel the radiation.
Common Side Effects
During and after treatment, you may experience:
- Fatigue: Feeling more tired than usual is very common. Rest when you need to.
- Hair loss: Hair in the treated area will likely fall out, usually starting 2-3 weeks into treatment. It often grows back after treatment ends.
- Scalp changes: Your scalp may become dry, itchy, or slightly red.
- Mild headache: Usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Taking Care of Yourself
- Get plenty of rest
- Stay hydrated
- Use gentle shampoo and avoid hot water on your scalp
- Wear a soft hat or scarf if you prefer
- Keep all follow-up appointments
Please ask your care team any questions—we're here to support you through this treatment.
Review Notes:
The physician would verify this matches the specific patient's situation and add/remove information as appropriate.
After-Visit Summaries (AVS) help patients remember what was discussed. AI can help create clear, personalized summaries.
Template Prompt for AVS:
Create a patient-friendly after-visit summary for the following consultation:
Visit type: [new patient consult / follow-up / simulation, etc.]
Diagnosis discussed: [in plain terms]
Treatment plan discussed: [key points]
Next steps: [what the patient needs to do/know]
Follow-up: [when and where]
Format it as a simple summary with bullet points. Use reassuring, clear language. Include any instructions or things to watch for.Best Practices:
- Be specific about next steps - "Your simulation is scheduled for Tuesday at 2pm" vs "We'll schedule your simulation"
- Include practical information - What to wear, where to park, who to call with questions
- Highlight action items - What does the patient need to do?
- Summarize key decisions - "We discussed treating with radiation over 6 weeks. You decided to proceed."
- Provide contact information - Who to call for questions or concerns
Task: Rewrite the following medical text for a patient audience.
Original:
"The patient will undergo CT simulation with 4D acquisition for respiratory motion assessment. Immobilization will consist of a wing board and knee support. An ITV will be generated from the 4D dataset and expanded to create the PTV per institutional protocol. IMRT will be used to achieve adequate target coverage while respecting OAR constraints."
Your Approach:
Think about:
- What does the patient actually need to know?
- What jargon can be simplified?
- What can be omitted?
Example Simplified Version:
"Before your radiation treatment starts, you'll have a special planning session called a 'simulation.' Here's what to expect:
- You'll have a CT scan while we watch how you breathe. This helps us plan around your normal breathing.
- We'll position you comfortably using supports under your arms and knees. You'll be in this same position for each treatment.
- Our team will use these scans to design a treatment plan that targets your tumor while protecting nearby healthy tissues as much as possible.
The simulation takes about 45-60 minutes. Wear comfortable clothing without metal (no underwire bras or jeans with metal buttons)."
Key Changes:
- Removed technical acronyms (4D, ITV, PTV, IMRT, OAR)
- Focused on patient experience, not technical process
- Added practical information (what to wear, how long)
- Explained the "why" (targeting tumor, protecting healthy tissue)
Key Takeaways:
- Target 6th-8th grade reading level for most patient materials. AI can help achieve this with proper prompting.
- Focus on patient experience, not technical process. Explain what they'll see, feel, and do.
- Always review AI-generated patient content for accuracy and appropriateness to the specific patient.
- Use templates for common scenarios (simulation prep, side effect management, post-treatment care).
- Include practical information - timing, logistics, who to call, what to bring.
Application:
Try the AI Playground to practice creating patient education materials for common radiation oncology scenarios.
Next Module: Research & Literature - Learn to use AI for literature review, paper synthesis, and research writing assistance.