Personalized patient education works best

Just giving patients information doesn’t make them better.  The new information needs to be incorporated into their behaviors and become part of new self-care routines.  They need to internalize that information, and apply it.

One recent randomized controlled trial looked at how to best get patients to apply new information to their lives.  This study compared six methods of advice giving:

— advice as explanation,

— general information-giving,

— generic advice,

— advice in the form of practitioner self-disclosure,

— personalized advice, and

— responsive advice.

They found the more specific and personalized the information and advice, the more likely it was for the participant to give a positive and engaged response.   The researchers concluded that “seizing every opportunity to deliver good quality personalized and/or responsive advice is essential in order to facilitate effective behavioural change.”

This is another reason to take the time to listen to our patients.  We can’t give specific, personalized information and advice unless we know who we’re talking to.  Two methods of individualizing teaching include motivational interviewing and health coaching.

Source:  Gambling, T., & Long, A. (2009). Tailoring advice and optimizing response: a case study of a telephone-based support for patients with type 2 diabetes. Fam Pract.