Jane Wigg. British Journal of Nursing, 26(4), pp. 204–206.

This clinical focus paper provides us with some useful reminders regarding educating our clients.

Main findings

• Self-management is an important part of managing lymphoedema. It is important for clinicians to establish what our client’s learning style is.
• How we learn affects our enthusiasm and ability to absorb knowledge and make sure that it is embedded.
• The more often our clients practice a skill the more proficient they will become and it will become second nature.
• It is essential when they are learning a new skill to have the opportunity to practice the skill with the practitioner several times so that they feel confident. How often, due to lack of time, do we only get our clients to practice donning and doffing their garment once before sending them to do it on their own at home? When we teach self-lymphatic drainage do we get them to demonstrate the whole routine on themselves, and provide appropriate feedback?
• Ensure “the appropriate time is taken to cement patient learning, ensuring that they are competent and have a good understanding backed by appropriate literature to assist with any skill”.
• Over time with appropriate support the plan is “for the patient to become totally empowered and self-caring. With this method, it is not necessary for all patients to be kept ‘on the books’, as has been seen over many decades.”
• “Clinic time commitments limit the learning experience for the patients, meaning that their understanding is less, along with less chance to practise a skilled technique, lowering confidence and having a compound effect on the perceived ‘non-concordance’.”