Every year, the Patient Education Team identifies patient pamphlets that have not been reviewed or updated within 5 years of the last review date. We then contact content creators to confirm whether these pamphlets need to be updated or removed from circulation.
Routine archiving of out-of-date pamphlets is done in accordance with policy AD-LIB-001 Patient Education Materials: Development and Maintenance, which helps ensure Nova Scotia Health patients, families and essential care partners receive up-to-date patient education materials.
This year, any pamphlets published in 2020 or before must be reviewed and updated or they will be removed from circulation on January 31, 2026.
The full list of items that must be reviewed and updated before January 31, 2025 can be found in the Pamphlets Due for Revision Dashboard.
As you know, changes to drug names, clinic or department contact information, and clinical practice are common. Patient pamphlets must be reviewed by the teams that created them, and/or the teams that use them, to ensure that such changes are reflected in the materials we provide to patients. This helps ensure misinformation and outdated directives are removed to help keep patients and care partners safe.
Library Services' Patient Education Team is available to support Nova Scotia Health staff in updating any existing pamphlets. Pamphlets published in 2020 or before that have not been reviewed and updated by January 31, 2026 will be archived and removed from the patient education resources collection.
What do you need to do?
- Check the list of titles that are due for review.
- Complete the Archiving Project form to let us know you intend to update a pamphlet or to recommend it be archived.
- Complete the Archiving Project form to recommend a pamphlet for archiving.
- Share this information with your colleagues who are involved in patient education pamphlets in your area, department, unit, or clinic.
How can the Patient Education Team help?
We can send you the latest version of the pamphlet as a Word document, so you can edit it easily. We facilitate the review and update process for you, including:
- Integrating your team’s edits and feedback
- Reviewing for plain language and readability
- Coordinating adaptation and reprint copyright permission requests
- Ensuring improved accessibility and consistent messaging in line with other Nova Scotia Health materials
- Updating layout and branding
Get started on your pamphlet review project by completing the Archiving Project form to connect with the Patient Education Team.
For guidance and resources on how to update or archive a pamphlet, refer to the Patient Pamphlets section of the Library’s Content Creator Toolkit.
Questions? Reach out to the Patient Education Team at Pamphlets@nshealth.ca.
Kallen Rutledge
Librarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets Lead
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone
Writing in plain language matters. In Canada, it’s reported that nine million people have limited literacy skills, with over half of Canadians reading below a high school level. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to offer additional support to patients and families with easy-to-read, straightforward patient pamphlets. For more information about creating or updating patient pamphlets, please visit the Patient Education Resources Toolkit. Contact Pamphlets@nshealth.ca with any questions. You can search for pamphlets by title or keyword in the pamphlets catalogue, or view the complete listing of active titles in our Print Code Index.
The following pamphlets were updated or created in November 2025.
Arabic Translations
AR85-2370 Screening for Diabetes After Pregnancy [Arabic] (English: WK85-2300, En français: FF85-2339, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2467)
AR85-2371 I have diabetes and I can have a healthy baby! - Pregnancy Information for Individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes [Arabic] (English: WK85-2301, En français: FF85-2340, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2466)
AR85-2369 Screening for Diabetes During Pregnancy [Arabic] (English: WK85-2299, En français: FF85-2338, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2446)
AR85-2536 NEW How to do a Twin Bag™ Exchange [Arabic] (English: WQ85-0633, Simplified Chinese: CH85-2214, Russian: RU85-2379, Vietnamese: VI85-2390)
Cardiovascular System
WG85-0158 Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) - Halifax Infirmary (H.I.)
Previous title: Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR)
WG85-2315 24-hour Cardiology Transfer Service
WG85-2546 NEW Cardiac Surgery Sternal Precautions
Digestive System
WI85-2548 NEW Bowel Surgery - Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) (En français: FF85-2549)
Endocrine System
WK85-1982 Diabetes Centres - Digby Diabetes Centre Shelburne Diabetes Centre Yarmouth Regional Hospital
WK85-2300 Screening for Diabetes After Pregnancy
(En français: FF85-2339, Arabic: AR85-2370, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2467)
WK85-2301 I have diabetes and I can have a healthy baby! - Pregnancy Information for Individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes (En français: FF85-2340, Arabic: AR85-2371, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2466)
WK85-2299 Screening for Diabetes During Pregnancy (En français: FF85-2338, Arabic: AR85-2369; Mi'kmaw: MI85-2446)
French Translations (en français)
FF85-2339 Dépistage du diabète après la grossesse (English: WK85-2300, Arabic: AR85-2370, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2467)
FF85-2340 J’ai le diabète. Puis-je avoir un bébé en santé? - Information sur la grossesse pour les personnes atteintes de diabète de type 1 ou de type 2 (English: WK85-2301, Arabic: AR85-2371, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2466)
FF85-2338 Dépistage du diabète pendant la grossesse (English: WK85-2299, Arabic: AR85-2369, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2446)
FF85-2549 NEW Votre guide de chirurgie intestinale - Récupération améliorée après une chirurgie (RAAC - ERAS) (English: WI85-2548)
Geriatrics
WT85-0599 Understanding Restraint Use for Patients and Essential Care Partners
Previous title: Restraint Considerations for Patients and Families
WT85-2537 NEW Seniors' Care Team
Gynecology & Reproductive Health
WP85-1931 Your Baby's Second Night (En français: FF85-1965)
WP85-2540 NEW Pre-Eclampsia - Cape Breton Regional Hospital
Hematology
WH85-2547 NEW Welcome to the Hereditary Bleeding Disorder Clinic - Victoria General (VG) Site, QE II
Hospital Information
WX85-0466 Your Rights and Responsibilities (letter size English: WX85-1842, En français: FF85-1739, Arabic: AR85-2205)
WX85-1933 Integrated Chronic Care Service (ICCS) Scent-free Information
Medications
QV85-2179 Oral Magnesium Supplements- Integrated Chronic Care Service
Mental Health & Addictions
WM85-2545 NEW Assessment for Eating Disorders in Adults
Mi'kmaw Translations
MI85-2467 Screening for Diabetes After Pregnancy [Mi'kmaw] (English: WK85-2300, En français: FF85-2339, Arabic: AR85-2370)
MI85-2466 I have diabetes and I can have a healthy baby! - Pregnancy Information for Individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes [Mi'kmaw] (English: WK85-2301, En français: FF85-2340, Arabic: AR85-2371)
MI85-2446 Screening for Diabetes During Pregnancy [Mi'kmaw] (English: WK85-2299, En français: FF85- 2338, Arabic: AR85-2369)
Musculoskeletal System
WE85-2237 Knee Replacement Surgery - Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH) Halifax Infirmary (HI)
Nursing Units
WZ85-1195 Welcome to Unit 7.2 Vascular Surgery - Halifax Infirmary, QE II
Previous title: Welcome to Unit 4.1 Vascular and General Surgery - Halifax Infirmary Site, QE II
WZ85-0018 Welcome to 4B - Hospitalist Medicine Unit (HMU)
Previous title: Welcome to 4B: Community Transitions Unit
Nutrition & Food
LC85-2035 Need Help Filling Your Belly or Cupboards? Yarmouth Food Supports
Oral Health
WU85-2227 Tissue Transplant in Oral Surgery (En français: FF85-2328)
Otorhinolaryngology
WV85-0439 Total Laryngectomy (En français: FF85-2366)
Respiratory System
WF85-2544 NEW Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)
Surgery
WO85-2541 NEW About Bariatric Surgery
WO85-2542 NEW Bariatric Surgery eLearning Program
WO85-2543 NEW Common Questions About Bariatric Surgery
Urogenital System
WJ85-0474 Managing Urinary Incontinence
WJ85-2222 Intermittent Clean Catheterization
WJ85-0396 Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
WJ85-0332 After Urinary Catheter Removal
WJ85-0478 Laparoscopic Kidney Removal (Nephrectomy)
WJ85-1603 Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
WJ85-0160 Circumcision
WJ85-0476 Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
WJ85-0481 Malleable Penile Prosthesis
WJ85-0485 Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
WJ85-0583 After Vasectomy Reversal (Vasovasostomy)
WJ85-0587 After a Nesbit Procedure
WJ85-0584 Having a Ureteral Stent
Previous title: Having a Ureteral Stent: After Urological or Endoscopic Surgery
WJ85-0165 Cystoscopy with Local Anesthetic
Previous title: Cystoscopy - Local Anesthetic
WJ85-0585 After a Cystoscopy with General Anesthetic
Previous title: After Cystoscopy: General Anesthetic
WJ85-2538 NEW Kegel Exercises for Bladder Control
WJ85-2539 NEW Inflatable Penile Implant Surgery - Dartmouth General Hospital, Victoria General Site
The following pamphlets were archived in November 2025:
WX85-1696 How to Avoid Safety Risks During Your Hospital Stay (En français: FF85-1711)
FF85-1711 Comment éviter les risques liés à la sécurité pendant votre hospitalisation (English: WX85-1696)
WX85-1842 Your Rights and Responsibilities [letter size version] (Booklet version: WX85-0466) (French Booklet: 1739, Arabic Booklet: 2205) (Poster version: MC0040; French poster: MC0043)
If a pamphlet that has been archived is still needed, please let us know as soon as possible and we will work with you to make it available again.
Kendell Fitzgerald
Librarian Educator
Central Zone