Rapport d"etude : une approche a l"education des patients basee sur la participation : un defi aux agents de sante

This paper describes the workshop"s activities designed to encourage health workers in Africa to develop their own participatory approach to working with clients/patients in health facilities. Stressing a shift from an authoritative, advice giving style of educating patients, the workshop encouraged participants to develop personal, culturally appropriate, interactive styles of patient education. The participants designed step-by-step processes for working interactively with individual clients and groups, developed a plan to test them in nearby health facilities, and revised the learning activities for use with other health workers. Participants subsequently reported positive experiences with their participatory style of patient education. They will need, however, to address problems caused by the length of time required to interact with clients, strengthen their understanding of client perspectives and beliefs, extend their activities into the community, and develop evaluation techniques that will promote continued learning. (Author abstract, modified)