Mr Edgard Eeckman, Communication Manager, PhD Media and Communication Studies - UZ Brussel

2. A situation An answer:
‘patient
empower-
ment’

3. A situation An answer:
‘Patient
Empower-
ment’

4. Serge

6. What changes
in the life of Serge
when he hears
that he's seriously ill?

7. Serge becomes
dependent

9. Dr. Dirk

10. Serge becomes dependent
on the resources of his doctor
De ‘resource dependency theory’

11. Patient dependency resources
Of the patient
• Information
• Knowledge
• Time
• Adherence
• Affection
• Skills
• Legal power

12. The dependence
on a ‘resource’
leads to power
The more valuable and rare the 'resource',
the greater the dependency.

13. What increases dependency?
• Directly
Uncertainty, perceived risk, perceived seriousness
and trust
• Indirectly
Ligitimized authority and charisma

14. The social power in the
patient-care provider relationship is
dependency power

15. Classical power

16. Loss of
control & autonomy

17. How does loss of control feel?
Loss of control
➢ Can create helplessness & make you sick
➢ Can create resistance and anger
 Patients (society!) ask to be involved

18. The importance of trust

19. Patients undergo less
• Symbolic resistance
• Real resistance

21. Mutual dependency
Of the patient
• Information
• Knowledge
• Time
• Adherence
• Affection
• Skills
• Legal power
Of the general practioner
• Information
• Time
• Adherence
• Affection
• Economic (reputation)

26. A situation An anwer:
‘Patient
Empower-
ment’

27. Exercise dependency power


Communication Power

28. Being in a position of power ꞊ having an
opportunity

29. What is ‘Patient Empowerment’?
“An empowered patient
has management control
of his condition
in daily life”
EPF, 2015
The patient must want & be able to have control

30. Patiënt Empowerment =
•Have more control
•Have more sense of control

31. Feeling of control
Welcome &
Communication

32. Patient Empowerment =
share responsibility

33. 3 communication objectives
 3 communication approaches
Purpose of
communication
Communication
approach
Inform and create
knowledge
Influence
To avoid: exercise
power
Empowering
Sharing information,
knowledge and experience
Creating intrinsic
motivation by exchanging
arguments
To support and
strengthen the patient's
self-efficacy

34. • More than just apply communication techniques
• An attitude
Healing is also about
restoring a person's autonomy

35. Mutual respect
Respect
= “due regard for the feelings
or rights of others”
Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 2004

36. Together

39. For that reason…
•A book
•A non-profit association
And you feel better

41. Go to www.patientempowerment.be and become a member
And you feel better