Designing health education content to be empathetic and inclusive can help patients stay engaged and drive better outcomes and satisfaction.
As healthcare providers and professionals look to improve outcomes among their patients and members, a preventative approach to health can help identify risks before they become acute conditions, and also alleviate some of the long-term pressure on clinicians.
In the case of cardiovascular health, it’s not uncommon for the first diagnosis of diabetes to be made at the time of a heart attack, long after preventative measures could have been put into place. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally and most can be prevented by addressing behaviors like tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet and obesity, and physical activity. Additionally, providers themselves are faced with complex challenges such as burnout, readmission costs, an increasing emphasis on primary care and preventative services, and trying to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Patient engagement is a known strategy that can improve treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction, and provider service efficiency. However, it’s key that the patients themselves do their part to practice self-care and adhere to any remediation plans for patient engagement solutions to be effective. If education is relatable and personalized to the patient experience, it can increase engagement by highlighting factors within their control, enabling them to be partners in their care journey and help alleviate some of the pressure on care teams.
Five elements of empathetic health education
When designing health education with an inclusive focus, there are some key principles that can help enhance empathy, understanding, and trust.