1
The Informed Patient
The Doctor Knows Best, Does He?
Gastein, October 6, 2005
2
3
Contents
Where we are Where we need to be Bridging the gap Overcoming the obstacles Roadmap towards the
Informed Patient
4
Where we are Bizarre situation
- Information overload on Internet- Inadequate information flow from health
professionals, particularly physicians Inadequate policy Evidence of inadequacy of health
information in practice- TIP II Report- Health Communication Journal
No single training manual
5
Where we need to be
“The European Patients Forum believes that all patients, no matter their condition, background or nationality, have a fundamental and legitimate right of access to all kinds of information about their health, medical conditions and the availability of treatments including the best available management for their disease”
6
Where we need to be (2)
« Informed Decisions .. in full partnership with health care professionals » (EPF)
EU Policy which facilitates patient empowerment and information
Institutionalized Part of Health Professional Training
7
Benefits: Informed Patient
Better quality life More discerning about health Prevention of disease Awareness of risks & benefits Optimize health outcomes Healthy patients an asset to society
8
Bridging the Gap
Involve the right PEOPLE(Patient Representative Groups = IAPO, Health Professionals, WHO, Young generation)
Develop clear and effective POLICY Provide the most effective TRAINING
material Develop PARTNERSHIP projects Create POLICY platforms for debate &
influence EU agenda
9
PEOPLE & Existing Policies
International Association of Patients Organizations (IAPO) + EPF
World Medical Association (WMA)« Decl. Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient »
International Council of Nurses (ICN)« Informed Patients »
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)« Standards for Quality of Pharmacy Services »
FDI World Dental Federation « International Principles of Ethics for the Dental Profession »
World Health Organization?
10
POLICY (Common Principles)
Right to Information & Informed Decisions Confidentiality & Privacy Accessible, Timely, Accurate, Clear,
Relevant, Reliable Focus on Prevention Risks & Benefits should be communicated Importance of Partnerships Training Imperative
11
POLICY (Common Statement)
Common Statement on the Principles of Good Practice in Health Communication and Information Practice
Inclusive of existing policies Concise & Global context
12
TRAINING (Common Manual)
Pocket Edition Training Manual Examples of successful manuals
(Good Clinical Practice for Biomedical Research, WMA Ethics Manual, Human Rights)
Inclusion in curricula of health professions’ training
13
OBSTACLES
Government Informed Patient = Expensive Patient?
Health Professions- Turf Wars- Older Generation vs Millenium Kids
Patients- Team dynamics
(Storming, Norming, Performing)
14
ROADMAP
WMA policy & training material development (2005 – 2006)
Consensus Seeking Platform – towards a COMMON STATEMENT(Health Professions, IAPO + WHO)
Training Manual – Scholarly piece, seek endorsement & distribution by HPAs
Joint Advocacy
15
Paradigm Shift: Old New
16
17
18