PATIENT EDUCATION - LESSONS FROM EPILEPSY

Throughout the world some 40 lay associations are in the business of e nabling patients with epilepsy to come to an understanding of their co ndition. This article aims to present the bones of this collective exp erience by detailing the positive outcomes that can be achieved for pa tients, for health professionals and for society in general. if patien t education is delivered in a way that promotes confidence building, e nsures that the educational locus is centred on the patient and enable s the patient to be a partner in any decision-making process. This art icle will also suggest general guidelines that should underpin any pat ient education programme, as well as specific content. The questions o f who should be responsible for delivering the programme and how patie nt education programmes can in reality become an integral part of heal th care plans are also addressed.