title: Patients as educators: interprofessional learning for patient-centred care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic conditions have unique expertise that enhances interprofessional education. Although their active involvement in education is increasing, patients have minimal roles in key educational tasks. A model that brings patients and students together for patient-centred learning, with faculty playing a supportive role, has been described in theory but not yet implemented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify issues involved in creating an educational intervention designed and delivered by patients and document outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  An advisory group of community members, students and faculty guided development of the intervention (interprofessional workshops). Community educators (CEs) were recruited through community organizations with a healthcare mandate. Workshops were planned by teams of key stakeholders, delivered by CEs, and evaluated by post-workshop student questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workshops were delivered by CEs with epilepsy, arthritis, HIV/AIDS and two groups with mental health problems. Roles and responsibilities of planning team members that facilitated control by CEs were identified. Ten workshops attended by 142 students from 15 different disciplines were all highly rated. Workshop objectives defined by CEs and student learning both closely matched dimensions of patient-centredness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our work demonstrates feasibility and impact of an educational intervention led by patient educators facilitated but not controlled by faculty.
authors: Division of Health Care Communication, College of Health Disciplines, University of British Columbia, Canada. atowle@interchange.ubc.ca
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Towle
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Godolphin
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D001955:British Columbia; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007858:Learning; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D016730:Program Development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires