Do printed educational materials have any effect on professional practice and health care outcomes?

Printed educational materials are widely used passive-dissemination strategies to improve knowledge, awareness, attitudes, skills, professional practice, and patient outcomes. Traditionally they are presented in paper format such as monographs, publication in peer-reviewed journals, and clinical guidelines and appear to be the most frequently adopted method for disseminating information.

Key messages

• Printed educational materials may lead to little or no difference in professional practice.
• The effect of printed educational materials on patient out-comes is uncertain.
• Printed educational materials may be optimised if implemented alongside other quality improvement strategies with proven effectiveness.
• All the studies included in the review were conducted in high-income settings. Rigorous studies from low- and middle-income countries are needed to fully assess the impact of printed educational materials on professional practice and health outcomes.