The potential of health education in health services delivery

In the context of the many social forces contributing to the present rapid evolution of the system for the development of health services in the United States, professional, systematic patient education must play an increasingly larger role. This assumption of responsibility will help to assure more efficient and effective utilization of health services, more efficient use of health manpower, increased cost control, and closer cooperation between consumers and the deliverers of health services. Greater understanding of patient education as a process and broader implementation of its principles by all health service personnel will increase the thrust toward considering each patient as an individual human being, with a unique psychosocial, family, and cultural background, who deserves the right to information concerning his health and to guidance in using that information to his greatest advantage. Practical aspects of patient education programs are discussed including the effects of various types of patient/physician relationships. Constraints on development of these programs include the lack of qualified health educators (presently only 25,000), lack of a central federal coordinating authority, and lack of funding for health education programs.