1 The Informed Patient The Doctor Knows Best, Does He? Gastein, October 6, 2005.

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The Informed Patient

The Doctor Knows Best, Does He?

Gastein, October 6, 2005

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Contents

Where we are Where we need to be Bridging the gap Overcoming the obstacles Roadmap towards the

Informed Patient

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Where we are Bizarre situation

- Information overload on Internet- Inadequate information flow from health

professionals, particularly physicians Inadequate policy Evidence of inadequacy of health

information in practice- TIP II Report- Health Communication Journal

No single training manual

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Where we need to be

“The European Patients Forum believes that all patients, no matter their condition, background or nationality, have a fundamental and legitimate right of access to all kinds of information about their health, medical conditions and the availability of treatments including the best available management for their disease”

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Where we need to be (2)

« Informed Decisions .. in full partnership with health care professionals » (EPF)

EU Policy which facilitates patient empowerment and information

Institutionalized Part of Health Professional Training

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Benefits: Informed Patient

Better quality life More discerning about health Prevention of disease Awareness of risks & benefits Optimize health outcomes Healthy patients an asset to society

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Bridging the Gap

Involve the right PEOPLE(Patient Representative Groups = IAPO, Health Professionals, WHO, Young generation)

Develop clear and effective POLICY Provide the most effective TRAINING

material Develop PARTNERSHIP projects Create POLICY platforms for debate &

influence EU agenda

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PEOPLE & Existing Policies

International Association of Patients Organizations (IAPO) + EPF

World Medical Association (WMA)« Decl. Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient »

International Council of Nurses (ICN)« Informed Patients »

International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)« Standards for Quality of Pharmacy Services »

FDI World Dental Federation « International Principles of Ethics for the Dental Profession »

World Health Organization?

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POLICY (Common Principles)

Right to Information & Informed Decisions Confidentiality & Privacy Accessible, Timely, Accurate, Clear,

Relevant, Reliable Focus on Prevention Risks & Benefits should be communicated Importance of Partnerships Training Imperative

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POLICY (Common Statement)

Common Statement on the Principles of Good Practice in Health Communication and Information Practice

Inclusive of existing policies Concise & Global context

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TRAINING (Common Manual)

Pocket Edition Training Manual Examples of successful manuals

(Good Clinical Practice for Biomedical Research, WMA Ethics Manual, Human Rights)

Inclusion in curricula of health professions’ training

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OBSTACLES

Government Informed Patient = Expensive Patient?

Health Professions- Turf Wars- Older Generation vs Millenium Kids

Patients- Team dynamics

(Storming, Norming, Performing)

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ROADMAP

WMA policy & training material development (2005 – 2006)

Consensus Seeking Platform – towards a COMMON STATEMENT(Health Professions, IAPO + WHO)

Training Manual – Scholarly piece, seek endorsement & distribution by HPAs

Joint Advocacy

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Paradigm Shift: Old New

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