Patient education is a structured process in which patients (and, when relevant, caregivers) are supported to understand health conditions, treatment options, medication use, risk reduction, and self-management tasks so they can participate effectively in care [1][2][3][4]. It involves planned communication and teaching strategies that are adapted to patient needs, literacy level, and clinical context [1][2]. Patient education is characterized by clear learning goals, interactive understanding checks, and follow-up that links information to action and behavior change [2][3][4]. In healthcare practice, the term denotes intentional educational interventions integrated into care delivery, rather than routine one-way instructions without assessment of comprehension or application.
- patient education
- health literacy
- self-management
- shared decision-making
References
- World Health Organization. Therapeutic Patient Education: Continuing Education Programmes for Health Care Providers in the Field of Prevention of Chronic Diseases; WHO Regional Office for Europe: Copenhagen, 1998. Available online: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/108151.
- Kate R. Lorig; Halsted R. Holman; Self-management education: History, definition, outcomes, and mechanisms. Ann. Behav. Med. 2003, 26, 1-7, 10.1207/s15324796abm2601_01.
- Nancy D. Berkman; Stacey L. Sheridan; Katrina E. Donahue; David J. Halpern; Karen Crotty; Low Health Literacy and Health Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review. Ann. Intern. Med. 2011, 155, 97-107, 10.7326/0003-4819-155-2-201107190-00005.
- Dean Schillinger; John Piette; Kevin Grumbach; Frances Wang; Clifford Wilson; Carolyn Daher; Krishelle Leong-Grotz; Cesar Castro; Andrew B. Bindman; Closing the Loop. Arch. Intern. Med. (1960) 2003, 163, 83-90, 10.1001/archinte.163.1.83.