Benefits of patient education

A wealth of scientific evidence shows that when patients have access to appropriate health information, they gain a better understanding of their medical conditions and treatment options. They are then more likely to make proactive lifestyle and healthcare choices for managing current disorders and helping prevent new ones from developing.¹

Patient education also improves adherence to prescribed therapies, decreases the need for excessive diagnostic testing, and improves patient satisfaction with treatment. It also decreases patients’ anxiety and depression about health concerns.^1,2

To be truly effective, however, patient education should be considered together with health literacy – the ability to access, understand and use information in ways that lead to better health. It is an important health indicator; In the United States, for example, health literacy is a stronger predictor of a person’s health status than income, employment, ethnicity, or education level.³

With regard to chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, research has consistently demonstrated that well-designed patient education is effective in improving biomedical, psychological and quality of life outcomes.¹

NCDs are a major concern for health professionals in the 21st century. They are the main reason people seek healthcare: over 80% of medical consultations globally concern NCDs.¹ 

These disorders are highly prevalent and a major contributor to death, disability and reduced quality of life worldwide. Of all NCD deaths, 73% occur in low- and middle-income countries such as those comprising the African continent. In South Africa, deaths due to major NCDs were shown to increase by 58,7% over a twenty-year period.^4,5

The rapid rise in NCDs is also predicted to impede poverty reduction initiatives in low-income countries, particularly by increasing household costs associated with healthcare.⁴

Efforts to tackle NCDs are showing a shift towards preventative strategies. A key component of this is health education that promotes a healthier lifestyle, early disease detection and regular check-ups.⁵

Modifiable factors such as obesity, sedentary behaviour, and tobacco and alcohol use are highly significant in the risk profile for NCDs, and largely in the patient’s hands.¹

Patients who appreciate the importance of nutrition and exercise, as well as medication adherence, are far more likely to participate in their own healthcare and ward off NCDs. For instance, educating patients on osteopenia (early-stage bone density loss) encourages them to take vitamin D supplements, exercise regularly and make healthy diet choices – thus lowering their risk for developing osteoporosis.²

Research shows that patient education is also vital in the fight against infectious (communicable) diseases. 

For example, a Chinese health education programme using the messaging and calling app WeChat proved to be an effective and well-accepted means to improve the general population’s infectious disease health literacy. The researchers pointed out that not only does good health literacy reduce the incidence of re-emerging infectious diseases, but it also helps prevent the emergence of new ones such as COVID-19.⁶

In South Africa, studies show that the absence of patient education worsens the country’s dual epidemic of tuberculosis and HIV.⁷

Education at primary health care facilities, however, has been linked to an increase in TB patients adopting good infection control practices. Similarly, even where health literacy levels are low regarding HIV/AIDS, tailored education programmes can improve knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning the disease.^8,9 

Patient education and higher health literacy has further been shown to lower health costs for individuals, and ease the burden on healthcare systems.

One such effect is reduced hospital readmissions and emergency room visits. For example, where employees participated in a web-based health literacy program, hospitalisations dropped by 32%, emergency department visits by 14%, and overall costs by 11%.¹⁰ 

A study on American veterans showed that the average per-patient cost, as well as utilisation of health services, was significantly higher for those with poor health literacy. The study authors concluded that addressing this lack with various strategies, including the use of spoken and written language education materials, could produce potential economic savings of around 8% of total costs.¹¹ 

In Kenya, health education for TB patients has been shown to reduce the number of people with catastrophic treatment costs (10% or more of household income), as well as reducing the amount of income lost due to treatment and being unable to work.¹²

Despite its undeniable benefits, patient education faces certain challenges. Addressing these with tried-and-tested, as well as innovative strategies, is essential to maximizing effectiveness:

Tailored communication. Patients do not all start from the same knowledge or comprehension baseline. Low health literacy, language barriers and cultural differences can dilute the effectiveness of educational materials. Tailoring content to the unique needs of diverse populations is crucial: patients who receive clear, culturally sensitive materials are more likely to grasp medical concepts and follow care plans.¹

Multimodal approaches: Combining various formats, such as computer technology, print materials and demonstrations, caters to different learning preferences and helps reinforce key messages.¹

For example, adapting educational materials to video format may be helpful for patients who feel reluctant to read or talk about their health issues. Personalised patient education handouts, as an addition to verbal education from their health professionals, fosters shared healthcare decision-making, patient satisfaction and health literacy.²

All such formats and their combinations can be effective to some extent, and have different advantages. While some formats (such as handouts) may be less interactive than, for example, personalised one-to-one discussion, they may be more cost-effective when large-scale implementation is required.¹

Follow-up support: Regular follow-ups e.g. phone calls, text messages, telehealth sessions or community health worker visits help to reinforce health messages and address further questions. The education “dosage”, i.e., effective delivery of the information may be more important than the “regimen”, i.e., using different techniques.¹

As modern healthcare continues to evolve, investing in innovative, patient-centered educational strategies will remain an essential element in the quest for a healthier global society. 

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