The impact of knowledge: Patient education improves compliance and outcomes

Written by WebMD Ignite

The proper diagnosis of a disease and effective treatments are, of course, essential to an individual’s prognosis and quality of life. But there is also compelling evidence about the value of being sufficiently informed, since a patient’s misunderstanding of a condition and its care can result in non-compliance to a doctor’s recommendations, significantly and adversely affecting outcomes.

Patient education is critical to improving patient compliance and outcomes. The more clearly a disease is understood, the more likely it is that an individual will be comfortable with their care and adhere to necessary regimens.

The impact of quality education

A patient must be adequately prepared and informed about the management of their disease as well as potential side effects of any interventions. Cancer treatments, for example, can be extremely intimidating. Adequate knowledge about what can be expected during and after chemotherapy and other procedures is critical. Research published in Seminars in Oncology Nursing has long shown that patients with cancer “benefit in terms of knowledge acquisition, enhanced self-care, reduced anxiety, enhanced self-concept and self-esteem, increased satisfaction with care, improved pain control, improved oral status, and a reduced disruption in daily functioning.”

The research iterates that “the more clearly a disease is understood, the more likely it is that an individual will be comfortable with their care and adhere to necessary regimens.” Considering that some patients undergo treatments at home, such as oral chemotherapy and caring for central venous catheters, while others meet the difficult demands of regular infusion chemotherapy in a variety of settings, educational programs can make a real difference in adherence to a regimen and the corresponding outcome.

Learning about their condition means these individuals have the knowledge to undertake their treatments with confidence and, in some cases, are more likely to do so safely outside a medical facility.

The impact of patient education and adherence 

In “Approaches to Patient Education: Emphasizing the Long-Term Value of Compliance and Persistence,” published in The American Journal of Medicine, Deborah T. Gold, PhD and Betsy McClung, MN, RN found that “patient education significantly improves compliance with medication across a broad range of conditions and disease severities.” Conversely, “lack of compliance is associated with poor clinical outcomes, increased hospitalizations, lower quality of life, and higher overall health costs.” But the challenge of educating patients is multi-faceted, especially when you consider the complexity of many diseases and the fact that nearly half of American adults have limited health literacy, according to an estimate from the National Academy of Medicine.

Considering that some patients undergo treatments at home…learning about their condition means these individuals have the knowledge to undertake their treatments with confidence and, in some cases, are likely able to do so safely outside a medical facility.”

How to improve patient education

As healthcare providers and healthcare marketers recognize the undeniable benefits of effective patient education in improving patient outcomes, it is easier to recognize that efficient education methods of disseminating information are required. In order to improve patient education and make it the most effective, resources need to be presented in laymen’s terms to communicate in a way that is understandable and impactful for all patients. Additionally, materials should be authored at various reading levels and in different languages.

Patient education benefits everyone

Beyond the clear value of education for patients, it also provides massive advantages for providers. Physical therapist Olga Dreeben summarized many of the benefits across healthcare disciplines in Patient Education in Rehabilitation:

• Patient education programs attract patients to the provider and increase their satisfaction with their care
• These programs can also decrease the provider’s liability
• Patient education promotes patient-centered care and increases adherence to medication and treatments
• An increase in compliance leads to a more efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery system
• Educating patients ensures continuity of care and reduces complications related to the illness

“Patient education programs attract patients to the provider and increase their satisfaction with their care.”

The patient education challenge for healthcare marketers

Healthcare marketers need to contribute to patient education while understanding the fine line between necessary and too much information. Materials must be created that are effective and adaptable to readers across different languages, media, and levels of knowledge. And a consensus must also be formed between physicians and healthcare systems about the importance of providing educational materials in the most effective formats possible – so patients will understand the information, be comfortable with their care, and confidently use this knowledge as they tackle their condition.

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