Ways to optimize understanding health related information: the patients' perspective

Self-management of chronic illness is a high priority health care need of community dwelling elderly. Effective patient provider health communication related to health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management is a key intervention necessary to achieve optimal health outcomes. Little is known about the methods elderly patients actually use to help understand health related teaching by their health care providers. Focus groups were held to describe these ways from a patient's perspective. Facilitators of understanding were identified as persevere in getting questions answered, come prepared to office visit, and work to develop a good relationship with health care providers. Barriers were identified as not having questions answered lack of time with provider, hearing difficulty, and fragmented care.