[Integrating patient education in your oncology practice].
BACKGROUND
Patient education is the process by which health professionals impart information to patients and their caregivers that will alter their health behaviors; improve their health status to better manage their lives with a chronic disease. Patient education implies a profound paradigm shift in the conception of care among health professionals, and should result in structural care changes. Patient education has been promoted by the French Health system for 30years, including in the 2009 HPST law and Cancer Plan 2014-2019. A patient education program was designed in our hospital for breast cancer patients.


METHODS
A multidisciplinary and transversal team of health professionals and resource patients was trained before grant application for funding of the program by the regional health care agency. Management of the project required that a functional unit be built for recording of all patient education related activities. A customized patient education program process was built under the leadership of a coordinator and several patient education project managers during bimonthly meetings, using an accurate timeline and a communication strategy to ensure full institutional support and team engagement.


RESULTS
The grant was prepared in four months and the program started within the next four months with the aim to include 120 patients during year 1. The program includes a diagnosis of patient abilities and well-being resources, followed by collective and individual workshops undertaken in 4months for each patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient education is positively evaluated by all participants and may contribute to better health care management in the long term but the financial and human resources allocated to such programs currently underestimate the needs. Sustainability of patient education programs requires that specific tools and more commitment be developed to support health care professionals and to promote patient coping and empowerment in the long term.
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France. Electronic address: jthariat@gmail.com.
Juliette
J
Thariat
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Anne
A
Creisson
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Blandine
B
Chamignon
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Magali
M
Dejode
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Marie
M
Gastineau
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Christophe
C
Hébert
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Fabienne
F
Boissin
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Christelle
C
Topfer
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Elise
E
Gilbert
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Benoit
B
Grondin
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Helène
H
Guennoc
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Veronique
V
Mari
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Solange
S
Buzzo
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Dominique
D
Saja
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Nathalie
N
Duboue
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Rabia
R
Boulahssass
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Alexia
A
Tosi
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Suzanne
S
Verne
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Julie
J
Ducray
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Isabelle
I
Benard-Thiery
Centre Lacassagne, équipe éducation thérapeutique patient, 33, avenue Valombrose, 06189 Nice cedex 2, France.
Jean Marc
JM
Ferrero
D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016730:Program Development / Q000191:economics
Ambulatoire; Chronic disease; Compétence; Cost effectiveness; Ethics; Financement; Maladie chronique; Médico-économique; Patient; Quality of life; Qualité de vie; Reimbursement; Self-management/empowerment; Therapeutic education; Éducation thérapeutique; Éthique