Robert Adams
Improving health outcomes with better patient understanding and education
Queen Elizabeth Hospital|University of Adelaide
central plank health care reform expanded role educated consumers interacting responsive health care teamshowever individuals realize benefits health education also requires high level engagementpopulation studies documented gap expectations actual performance behaviours related participation health care preventioninterventions improve selfcare shown improvements selfefficacy patient satisfaction coping skills perceptions social supportsignificant clinical benefits seen trials selfmanagement lifestyle interventions across conditions diabetes coronary heart disease heart failure rheumatoid arthritishowever focus many studies shortterm outcomes rather long term effectsthere also evidence participation patient education programs spread evenly across socio economic groupsthis review considers three issues may important increasing public health impact patient educationthe first health literacy capacity seek understand act health informationalthough health literacy involves individuals competencies health system primary responsibility setting parameters health interaction style content mode informationsecondly much patient education work focused factors attitudes beliefsthat small changes physical environments large effects behavior utilized selfmanagement chronic disease researchchoice architecture involves reconfiguring context physical environment way makes likely people choose certain behavioursthirdly better means evaluating impact programs public health neededthe reach effectiveness adoption implementation maintenance reaim framework promoted one potential approach