Peer Review

Routine EEG

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jun 8, 2026 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This illustrated booklet was created to help prepare pediatric patients for their upcoming EEG. It is designed to support pediatric patients and their families in preparing for EEG testing, and may be freely shared and adapted under a Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 license.

Type of Material:

Reference Material

Recommended Uses:

With improved rewriting, a pre-procedure patient/parent/caregiver educational leaflet
Material used as an example for in-class or clinical discussion on patient education for healthcare students

Technical Requirements:

Internet access
Web browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

After active engagement with the material, the learner will

Describe what an EEG is to the child and family.
Describe how a pediatric EEG is done and the steps.
Explain what happens during each phase of the test.

Target Student Population:

General population
Patients who are to take an EEG and their parents/caregivers
Grade School or above

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic reading ability (Primary/Elementary level)
No medical knowledge required

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The author demonstrates good intentions in creating a resource to help children prepare for EEG procedures.
The material uses age-appropriate language and a first-person narrative approach that may provide comfort to pediatric patients.
Importantly, the resource includes an appropriate medical disclaimer and directs users to consult their healthcare provider with questions, which is essential for medical educational materials.
The inclusion of a Creative Commons license and a DOI demonstrates a commitment to open educational practices.
The concept of what a pediatric patient and family can expect is outlined in a PDF-style infographic, with concepts illustrated through pictures that correspond to the content. The approach/format is aligned to older pediatric patients.

Concerns:

The material presents a single individual's subjective experience rather than evidence-based educational content. The narrative cannot be generalized to all EEG procedures or patient populations, as experiences vary significantly based on facility protocols, patient age, and individual circumstances.
The content lacks support from multiple authoritative sources (only one reference is cited, and it supports only one statement) and does not provide comprehensive information on different types of EEG procedures, variations in technique, or what constitutes standard practice. This limits its flexibility and educational value, as it cannot be adapted to diverse clinical settings or used to teach EEG procedures more broadly.
The quality of instruction could be improved; the pictures are geared toward older pediatric clients rather than those 8 and younger, where the use of characters or animals might relate better. The content is brief, limited to what you can expect from beginning to end, and doesn't address what happens when the EEG is completed. The content is supported by the Cleveland Clinic website, which does not outline evidence-based resources.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The author's intention to reduce patient anxiety before EEG procedures is commendable and addresses a real need in pediatric healthcare.
The sequential format attempts to walk readers through the procedure chronologically.
There is an identified title and purpose, which potentiates client/student learning.

Concerns:

The material does not clearly identify measurable learning objectives from an educational standpoint and could be improved through concept reinforcement.
It lacks information on different types of EEGs (routine, ambulatory, and video EEG monitoring), variations in procedures across facilities, or what patients should know about the test's purpose and importance.
This type of educational material is usually provided by the healthcare institutions about their settings.
Patients may share their personal experiences to help others reduce anxiety, but not as educational material. As a personal narrative rather than instructional material, it cannot be used effectively to teach healthcare concepts or to measure student learning outcomes.
The resource would need substantial revision to include comprehensive information about EEG procedures, their variations, clinical indications, and what patients should expect across different settings. Without this broader context, it functions primarily as one child's comfort story rather than an educational teaching tool suitable for curriculum integration.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The illustrated format and brief length make it quick to learn.
The format is easily accessible, engaging, and the language is simple enough for older elementary-level readers
The site is easy to use and navigate. The site is in good working order. The content is written clearly.

Concerns:

While the material is technically easy to read, it is not appropriate for general educational use due to its narrow scope and personal narrative format.
The resource does not serve the diverse needs of students, educators, or healthcare providers seeking comprehensive information about EEG procedures. The highly individualized content ("I chose to have a friend," "I blew into a pinwheel") may confuse users who encounter different procedures at their facilities.
The material's limited applicability reduces its overall usability for educational purposes in MERLOT's repository.
While the PDF uses colors and is aesthetically laid out, some of the text within the colored boxes appears faded; bolding the text within the colored boxes may make for an easier read.
Alt text was not found with images.
Recommend adding sequential headings.

Other Issues and Comments:: Great intent with the teaching pamphlet. See recommendations for educational enhancement.
Creative Commons: