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Becoming a partner in your healthcare
1Hemophilia Foundation of Nevada, Henderson, Nevada 89009, USA. hfnv@earthlink.net
Insights
Patients with chronic disorders like hemophilia can gain more control and better health outcomes by shifting from a passive patient role to an active consumer role in their healthcare. This partnership approach empowers individuals in managing their conditions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Patient Advocacy
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Chronic disorders, such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, significantly impact patients' sense of control.
- The traditional patient role, derived from the Latin 'patiens' (to suffer), can foster feelings of victimization and passivity within the healthcare system.
- Navigating healthcare can be confusing and intimidating, further diminishing a patient's sense of agency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the psychological and practical benefits of reframing the patient's role in healthcare.
- To advocate for a shift from a passive 'patient' identity to an active 'consumer' or 'partner' role.
- To investigate how this role shift influences patient empowerment and healthcare outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the term 'patient' and its etymological roots.
- Exploration of patient experiences with chronic conditions and the healthcare system.
- Theoretical framework comparing passive patient roles with active consumer/partner roles in healthcare delivery.
Main Results:
- Adopting an active consumer role, viewing healthcare as a service, enhances feelings of control for individuals with chronic disorders.
- This proactive engagement fosters a partnership between patient and provider, moving away from a victimhood dynamic.
- Empowered patients are likely to experience improved health outcomes compared to those adhering to the traditional patient role.
Conclusions:
- Shifting the patient's perspective to that of a healthcare consumer can significantly improve their sense of control and well-being.
- Encouraging patients to become active partners in their care is crucial for better management of chronic conditions like hemophilia.
- Healthcare systems should facilitate this transition to empower patients and enhance the overall effectiveness of care delivery.
Abstract:
Chronic disorders such as haemophilia and von Willebrand disease can rob people of a feeling of control over their lives. Added to this is often a feeling of confusion or intimidation when dealing with the healthcare system. People may begin to feel like victims of their disorders and of the healthcare system. The healthcare system defines people who are in receipt of care as patients. The word patient comes from the Latin word patiens, which means to suffer, endure, allow, permit or undergo. Even the term implies a sense of victimization. People who become partners in their care and view the receipt and delivery of healthcare as a service wherein they are the consumer and the doctor or clinician is the provider, will feel more in control and will likely have better outcomes than people who assume the more traditional role of 'patient'.