A future perspective on patient/health education in Canada

The current climate of health care redefinition and reform in Canada has prompted the need to review services and resources with a view to reducing costs, refocusing emphasis and maintaining the level of health care services of which Canadians are proud. This paper reviews the process of patient/health education using the PRECEDE model. This model encompasses the behavioural and non-behavioural aspects of targeted health problems and their populations at risk, and three sets of strategic factors affecting educators and their clients. The paper examines the particular challenges implicit in each of the process components which are suggested by current trends and their implications for the future.