Patients as partners

The various factors that have influenced public and professional attitudes in recent years are considered, creating a climate where patients feel they may express a wish to participate in treatment and care, and in which health-care professionals accept and encourage this.

Abstract

Why should patients be partners in their treatment and care? How has the concept developed? How can this relationship be achieved? What benefits does it produce? This article considers the various factors that have influenced public and professional attitudes in recent years, creating a climate where patients feel they may express a wish to participate in treatment and care, and in which health-care professionals accept and encourage this. Having reached common ground in terms of attitude, how can this partnership be achieved in practice? What is required of both parties to reach a desired outcome? Meeting the informational needs of patients, relatives and friends is only one aspect of this process; others are also discussed. Finally, what are the benefits, real or imaginary, to patient and professional - financial, and in terms of research? The evidence, and in some cases the lack of it, is presented.