title: [Patient education: state of the art of the programs in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in 2008 before the publication of official documents relative to the authorizations of the Regional Health Agency (ARS)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At the request of the Hospitalization Regional Agency (ARH)--in the context of the 2007-2011 plan aimed at improving the quality of life for patients affected by chronic diseases--the purpose of this work was to draw up a clear assessment of the 2008 Therapeutic Education programmes in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region. The study was carried out before the publication of the therapeutic education statutory orders and ARS (regional health agency) authorizations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, carried out in the three sectors of medical management in the region--namely health-care institutions, ambulatory structures and health networks--made it possible to identify, first, which structures had actually launched therapeutic education programmes and then, how the procedures had been designed and set up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all the medical structures investigated, the study has listed 491 programmes, heterogeneously located throughout the PACA region. These programmes primarily target diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Their main objectives are the patients' quality of life, adherence to treatment and protective health behaviour (health improvement). The hospitalization sector programmes preferentially target the 30 to 60 years old, whereas the ambulatory and health networks programmes are more inclined to target the over 60 years old part of the population. More than 50% of the professionals involved in the programmes have never benefited from a specific training concerning the patients' therapeutic education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has pointed out a great number of important aspects which need drastic improvement in terms of therapeutic education organization - the involvement and training of health professionals, for instance.
authors: Équipe de recherche EA 3279 « évaluation hospitalière-mesure de la santé perçue », laboratoire de santé publique, faculté de médecine, 27, boulevard Jean-Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France. sophieparron@hotmail.fr
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Parron
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gentile
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Enel
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Benhaïm
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ferrandino
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bentz
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sambuc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires