Ways to engage patients in the healthcare sector. Sometimes, engaging patients in health care becomes mechanical, that the patients feel that several things are not taken care of. They lack warmth as accounted for by the patients. Further, there are also issues with the easy accessibility of these online services. According to a nationwide survey conducted by Technology Advice Research, patients were enquired about the services that they receive from their current healthcare provider; it was found that less than one-third of patients reported that they have accessibility to either online bill pay, scheduling of an online appointment, or the ability to see test reports and diagnoses online. It is important to keep in mind that these are the three most required services reported by the patients.
As we see through the above picture ways to engage patients in the health care center, patients require access, communication, and involvement. Let us know what empirical research suggests to us
As mentioned in the Journal of American Osteopathic Association, "In fact, research has shown that effective patient-physician communication can improve a patient's health as quantifiably as many drugs—perhaps providing a partial explanation for the powerful placebo effect seen in clinical trials."
We can rightly understand the importance of warm communication between the physician and the patient. Interaction only recommended in one's job profile is indeed ineffective. Hence, it is required for physicians to use jargon-free language, which would help them to connect better with the patients. This helps in engaging patients in their own healthcare engage patients in their own healthcare.
As mentioned in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, "First, patients reported that seeing their records had a positive effect on care communication between visits as well as during encounters. Second, access was felt to improve patients' knowledge about their health and prompted a greater desire for self-care. Third, patients reported that health record access improved participation in their care in a variety of ways." Patient experiences with full electronic access to health records and clinical notes through the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record Pilot: a qualitative study.
Hence, through the above research, we can see the significance of access to patient health records through the patient engagement system.
According to the research conducted by John et al. included in the Journal of Value of Health, "This example illustrates how training enabled patients to participate fully in meetings, how patient involvement strengthened the measures that emerged, and how attitudes of trust, respect, co-learning, and reciprocity facilitated the partnership." (J. Kirwan et al., (2017), Emerging guidelines for patient engagement in research.
How to engage patients in healthcare?
Hence, through the above research, we can also understand the importance of engaging patients and physicians through patient engagement strategies. It is required that patients be involved in the policymaking and be a part of advisory committees apart from being involved in the research.
Along with these terms of patients, there are also other needs that they have and should be accommodated through the patient engagement system. Though you might have contemplated a few of them, let us know about ways to engage patients in the health care center in which they require your help. Here’s how to engage patients in healthcare:
Optimization of quality of life: Though the patient engagement system might involve the knowledge about other disorders and the information regarding their disorders, they must live to their fullest. However, patient engagement stops at the elimination of the disease or the diminishing of the symptoms. Though it includes the suggestions for improvement of life's quality, it is required on the part of the physician to consult other health professionals such as a life coach or mental health professional who can practically aid the patients in implementing them. Patient’s role in healthcare plays a vital role.
Minimization of disease’s influence: They require help to decrease the disorder's intensity, not just with the aid of medications or treatment. Along with it, they want the inclusion of aspects such as those which increase their mental strength, tolerance capacity, and hopefulness, among numerous other non-physiological factors that contribute to the reduction of disease's impact. It is also their requirement that the treatment plan is pragmatic and straightforward enough for them to follow it.
Regulation through experimentation: Since we understood that they have an awareness of their symptoms and disorder, they want your aid in taking it to the next level of self-experimentation. They might not know which medicine to increase or decrease or which treatment to improvise or eliminate. The engagement systems need to provide them with such small experiments, and you are in a better position to guide them regarding such doubts. Once they know this alteration and its impact on their body, they will be able to make better decisions regarding the continuation or the termination of particular medicine or treatment.
Healing through life goals: As we have already comprehended the contribution of non-physiological aspects to wellness, they need to fulfill their life goals and heal through it. As the research by Vanessa et al. shows the prediction of more negative affect, intense stress, and severe symptoms in life, it becomes necessary to assist them. Aiding them to balance their goals and well-being would make them increase their esteem and confidence. Therapies through one's occupation or hobbies such as music, dance, sport, among several others, is a right amalgamation of well-being and life goals. Patient engagement needs to include them for the patient's well-being.
Connection to their caregivers: Interpersonal relationships with primary caregivers also contribute to the well-being of the patients. So, the patients should be able to connect to their caregivers despite their disorder. This should be ensured through the patient engagement system.
Hence, these are how the patients want to be engaged. These accommodations are necessary for the well-being of patients as well as caregivers.
