From patient education to patient engagement: implications for the field of patient education.
OBJECTIVE
Advances in health care require that individuals participate knowledgeably and actively in their health care to realize its full benefit. Implications of these changes for the behavior of individuals and for the practice of patient education are described.


METHODS
An "engagement behavior framework" (EBF) was compiled from literature reviews and key informant interviews. To assess the focus of research and interventions on the identified engagement behaviors, the EBF was used to code scientific sessions in professional conferences relevant to patient education in the US in 2006-2007.


RESULTS
Many specific behaviors constitute engagement. Professional conferences on patient education show only modest attention to the full range of relevant behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
People must make informed choices about insurance and clinicians, coordinate communications among providers and manage complex treatments on their own. Not doing so risks preventable illness, suboptimal outcomes and wasted resources.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased responsibilities of individuals, sick and well, to find and actively participate in high quality health care provides an opportunity for patient education researchers and clinicians to improve health outcomes by developing innovative strategies to support all individuals to effectively participate in their care to the extent possible.
Gruman
Jessie
J
Center for Advancing Health, Washington, DC 20009-1231, USA. jgruman@cfah.org
Rovner
Margaret Holmes
MH
French
Molly E
ME
Jeffress
Dorothy
D
Sofaer
Shoshanna
S
Shaller
Dale
D
Prager
Denis J
DJ
D003258:Consumer Behavior; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D012648:Self Care