As health professionals we want patients to be fully informed so they can make healthy choices, maximizing their opportunity to achieve an optimum state of health. We devote much time to providing patients with patient education information to help them reach this goal.

Patient education doesn’t have to be costly in time. It’s not the time you spend, but rather your approach to communicating information that is key.

However, just because we give patients complete and accurate information, doesn’t mean they’ll follow recommendations we provide. Despite our best efforts, large numbers of patients still develop diseases which could have been prevented, become debilitated by diseases that could have been controlled, and succumb to diseases that could have been treated effectively. Many factors that influence the extent to which patients follow health advice are beyond our control.

When patients don’t follow recommendations, you may be frustrated and puzzled, feeling that your most conscientious efforts to provide accurate and reliable patient education information have failed. Does this mean you should throw up your hands, concluding that you’ve done the best you can and there is nothing else that can be done?

The fact is there is something that can be done. Changing your approach to patient education can help you to be more effective. Here are some simple tips how:

1. Facilitate open, two-way communication between you and your patient.
   Use statements such as: “Before we begin, tell me what you know about your condition. Are there specific questions you have?”
2. Assess individual patient needs and resources and determine patient priorities.
   Explore and listen to patients’ views and concerns with statements such as: “Do you have specific worries or concerns about your condition or treatment? What things are most important to you?”
3. Set mutually agreed upon goals.
   Let patients know they have choices and that you are concerned about their individual needs with statements such as “There are several different options. Together let’s figure out which of these options works best for you.”
4. Develop a plan based on individual needs and resources.
   Make statements such as: “Are there any problems you see which may make it difficult for you to follow through with the plan we have discussed? What would help you most to be able to carry out the plan?”
5. Establish cooperative sharing of responsibility.
   The following statements communicate an expectation that patients share responsibility for treatment of their condition, in conjunction with your support and guidance: “We are going to work together to control your disease. If you find our plan isn’t working well for you, or that you’re having difficulty following recommendations, call me and we’ll work together to problem solve.”

You may be thinking, “I already spend time giving patients information. There isn't enough time to also engage them in dialogue.” Providing patients with patient education information is important, but it is only one step in the patient education process. Spending time giving patients information that they will not or cannot follow is of limited benefit. Effective patient education facilitates a partnership in which patients’ needs and resources are identified and their individual goals and resources are considered. Patients who are involved in planning and managing their health care are generally more likely to adhere to treatment plans.

In order to be effective, patient education doesn’t have to be costly in time. It’s not the time you spend, but rather your approach to communicating information that is key. Communicating information based on patients’ individual needs and resources and in a way that cultivates an atmosphere of mutual participation, respect, and shared decision-making can save you time by increasing the extent to which patients follow your instructions.

Does engaging patients in discussion and determining their needs and priorities mean that they dictate their care, rather than using your expertise? Of course not. It does mean:

• identifying supports and barriers to following recommendations
• problem solving with the patient
• determining goals that are acceptable to you both, and how each of you can contribute to reaching those goals

This approach cultivates an atmosphere of mutual participation, and shared decision-making and increases the probability that patients will follow the recommendations you give.