Abstract
Problem: Could engaging patients in their care be a means to oppose obscurantism? Obscurantism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the practice of keeping knowledge or understanding about something from people". Methods: This paper discusses the importance of promoting patient engagement and emphasizes that patients and healthcare providers are equally important stakeholders in health care. Findings: The discussion occurs in the context of hospital inpatient care as nurses play a critical role in patients' hospitalization experience, including engaging patients in their own care during hospital stays. Paternalism of healthcare providers is recognized as one of the main barriers to integrating the concepts of patient engagement and patient centeredness into every aspect of the care system. Promoting patient engagement is a two-way responsibility, and it requires the cooperation of both patients and healthcare providers. Conclusions: As scientists and healthcare providers, we have the duty to counter obscurantism by promoting understanding of the health of individual citizens and society at large. A culture change in healthcare systems toward being patient-centric and placing value on patient engagement is warranted, and this change must come from healthcare providers. Patient-centered tools that support patient engagement, patient portals, or personal health records are still needed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 196-200 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Nursing forum |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Consumer involvement
- Hospital
- Nursing care
- Patient
- Patient engagement
- Safety
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nursing(all)
Cite this
Engaging Patients in Their Care Versus Obscurantism. / Tzeng, Huey-Ming; Yin, Chang Yi; Fitzgerald, Kara.
In: Nursing forum, Vol. 50, No. 3, 01.07.2015, p. 196-200.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Engaging Patients in Their Care Versus Obscurantism
AU - Tzeng, Huey-Ming
AU - Yin, Chang Yi
AU - Fitzgerald, Kara
PY - 2015/7/1
Y1 - 2015/7/1
N2 - Problem: Could engaging patients in their care be a means to oppose obscurantism? Obscurantism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the practice of keeping knowledge or understanding about something from people". Methods: This paper discusses the importance of promoting patient engagement and emphasizes that patients and healthcare providers are equally important stakeholders in health care. Findings: The discussion occurs in the context of hospital inpatient care as nurses play a critical role in patients' hospitalization experience, including engaging patients in their own care during hospital stays. Paternalism of healthcare providers is recognized as one of the main barriers to integrating the concepts of patient engagement and patient centeredness into every aspect of the care system. Promoting patient engagement is a two-way responsibility, and it requires the cooperation of both patients and healthcare providers. Conclusions: As scientists and healthcare providers, we have the duty to counter obscurantism by promoting understanding of the health of individual citizens and society at large. A culture change in healthcare systems toward being patient-centric and placing value on patient engagement is warranted, and this change must come from healthcare providers. Patient-centered tools that support patient engagement, patient portals, or personal health records are still needed.
AB - Problem: Could engaging patients in their care be a means to oppose obscurantism? Obscurantism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the practice of keeping knowledge or understanding about something from people". Methods: This paper discusses the importance of promoting patient engagement and emphasizes that patients and healthcare providers are equally important stakeholders in health care. Findings: The discussion occurs in the context of hospital inpatient care as nurses play a critical role in patients' hospitalization experience, including engaging patients in their own care during hospital stays. Paternalism of healthcare providers is recognized as one of the main barriers to integrating the concepts of patient engagement and patient centeredness into every aspect of the care system. Promoting patient engagement is a two-way responsibility, and it requires the cooperation of both patients and healthcare providers. Conclusions: As scientists and healthcare providers, we have the duty to counter obscurantism by promoting understanding of the health of individual citizens and society at large. A culture change in healthcare systems toward being patient-centric and placing value on patient engagement is warranted, and this change must come from healthcare providers. Patient-centered tools that support patient engagement, patient portals, or personal health records are still needed.
KW - Consumer involvement
KW - Hospital
KW - Nursing care
KW - Patient
KW - Patient engagement
KW - Safety
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939514789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84939514789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/nuf.12105
DO - 10.1111/nuf.12105
M3 - Article
C2 - 25154870
AN - SCOPUS:84939514789
VL - 50
SP - 196
EP - 200
JO - Nursing Forum
JF - Nursing Forum
SN - 0029-6473
IS - 3
ER -