Patient Education (Individual Level)

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Overview

The World Health Organization defines patient education as “any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes” [1]. It consists primarily of providing verbal and written material to the patient to improve their motivation to maintain oral health and wellbeing. Key education points include an understanding of good oral health, the disease process and instruction about behaviors and hygiene activities to assist the patient.

Use and Application

Patient education for prevention and maintenance of oral health can be shared in a number of formats such as:

• one-to-one instruction using techniques of motivational interviewing
• through oral or written materials such as leaflets and brochures
• information through multimedia formats, the internet and social media.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is defined as a “directive, client-centred counselling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence.” It is more focused and goal-directed than simply imparting health information [2]

Effectiveness and Efficacy

Patients who have a strong understanding of their disease process are much more likely to control their disease and not have repeated setbacks [3]. Providing patient education can result in improved long term oral health which can lead to better outcomes with the use of preventive dentistry and dental services. Social media is an effective communication tool which can be utilised for educational purposes. It enables people from diverse backgrounds to communicate, collaborate and discuss topics. Sites are quite accessible, as participation requires only a smart-phone or computer device [4].

Safety

There are no risks to the patient when patient education is offered in an appropriate way.

Cost Effectiveness

The costs of offering effective patient education will vary across countries, and depending on the preferred methods of teaching. In particular, social media offers an inexpensive platform for patient education.

Recommendations

Offering patient education should be a responsibility for all health and dental professionals.

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References

1- World Health Organization. “Health Topics” http://www.who.int/topics/health_education/en/ accessed February 2011.

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Key Further Reading