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Signposting: A great way to structure the delivery of your education

Signposting helps give the patient an overview of what will be covered and allows us to break up complex information into clear, digestible parts. This also gives us structure so that we can cover key priorities, one at a time, and keep track of our patient education. It helps patients feel more in control by giving them a sense of what’s coming next, allowing them to prepare mentally and engage more actively in the discussion.

Signposting also allows us to pause between each aspect of our patient education to let the patient contribute and check their understanding. This is especially helpful if we have a lot to cover and want to ensure they retain key information. By breaking content into structured parts with clear transitions, we can reinforce learning and make it easier for patients to follow along. It also helps us manage time efficiently, ensuring that all key points are addressed within the available session.

Let’s look at some examples of how we can use signposting during patient education.

Provide a roadmap when you start

This gives the patient an outline of the session, helping them feel more at ease and aware of what to expect in sequence.

Example: “We’re going to cover a few things today. First, we’ll talk about the main concerns that you have expressed. We can then talk through what’s going on, what is contributing to it, and finally, look at options of how we can manage it moving forward.”

Break up sections with signposts as you go

This provides a smooth transition and signals that a new topic is beginning, reinforcing the structure of the discussion.

Example: “Now that we’ve talked about your condition, let’s go over what you can do to help manage it.”

Use non-verbal signposting

Signposting can also be done using body language, gestures, or visuals (for example, drawing on a whiteboard or using a handout).

Example:  “I’ve drawn the three key factors contributing to your pain, let’s go through each one.”

Adjust signposting based on the patient’s response

Some patients may prefer a structured outline, while others might feel overwhelmed by too much planning. By adapting our approach, we can ensure signposting is used in a way that best supports the patient’s learning and comfort.

Example: “Would you like a quick overview first, or should we take it step by step?”

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Patient Education Essentials for Physiotherapy Copyright © 2025 by The University of Queensland is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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