Creating successful patient partnerships in healthcare education to potentially improve students' understanding of patient-centered care

Abstract

Healthcare systems around the world are constantly evolving to meet the diverse needs of the people they serve. Patient-centered care is recognized as a crucial element in providing high-quality care (Najafizada et al., 2021; Anderson & Gagliardi, 2021; Kwame & Petrucka, 2021). However, there is a recognized need to enhance patient-centered care's application in practice (Edgman-Levitan & Schoenbaum, 2021; Macarthur et al., 2021). To improve healthcare students' understanding of patient-centered care in practice, educational institutions can adopt innovative approaches to teaching. One strategy that shows promise is to include patient partners in the education of healthcare curricula (Merav and Ohad, 2017; Jury, 2022). By engaging patient partners, students can gain valuable insights into the care needs of individuals living with various conditions and then hopefully implement that into their practice. To effectively involve patient partners in healthcare curricula, educational organizations should establish patient partnership programs that foster meaningful collaboration. Involving patient partners in the creation, design, delivery, and evaluation of patient partnership programs may enhance partnerships and sustain active participation. Through collaborative efforts with patient partners, educational institutions can create policies that support and prioritize patient engagement, ultimately enriching the learning experience for students and promoting patient-centered care in practice.

Keywords: Education; Healthcare; Patient partnerships; Patient-centered care.