title: Patient-centered care and adherence: definitions and applications to improve outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The implementation of patient-centered care (PCC) has been hampered by the lack of a clear definition and method of measurement. The purpose of this review is to identify the fundamental characteristics of PCC to clarify its definition, propose a method for measurement of PCC, and recommend effective PCC practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of literature related to PCC, adherence and communication from Cinahl, PubMed Academic Search Premier, and Cochrane Library databases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research has shown that patient-centered interactions promote adherence and lead to improved health outcomes. The fundamental characteristics of PCC were identified as (a) patient involvement in care and (b) the individualization of patient care. The use of a numeric rating scale to measure the presence of these characteristics allows quantification from the patient perspective. Effective PCC practices were related to communication, shared decision making, and patient education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCC is a measure of the quality of health care. Understanding the characteristics of PCC facilitates its implementation and measurement. Promoting PCC activities will improve adherence and encourage patient responsibility for health status.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. janicehrobinson@gmail.com
authors.forename: Janice H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Lynn C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Callister
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dearing
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D026706:Paternalism; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*