BMJ  2008;336:228-229 (2 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39435.643275.BE

Editorials

Coaching to support patients in making decisions

Needs to be tailored to individuals, and integrated with existing health systems

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

An essential component of high quality clinical care is an informed and engaged patient.¹ Although some patients have the necessary confidence and skills to participate in their care, others or their families need coaching to develop their skills. Over the past 15 years, health coaching has been evaluated in research interventions and is now provided mostly in call centres or management programmes for chronic conditions in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Coaching develops patients’ skills in preparing for a consultation, deliberating about options, and implementing change. Trained facilitators, who are supportive but do not make decisions for the patient, coach patients before or after an encounter with a clinician. Coaches are often nurses, but they may also be other health professionals or trained patients. Coaching is provided face to face between individuals or groups, or over the telephone, email, or internet. Human interaction is usually involved, but automated coaching using . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ University of Ottawa, School of Nursing, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1H 8M5, ² Laval University, Department of Family Medicine, Quebec, QC, Canada G1K 7P4

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Murray, M. A., Wilson, K., Kryworuchko, J., Stacey, D., O'Connor, A. (2009). Nurses' Perceptions of Factors Influencing Patient Decision Support for Place of Care at the End of Life. AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE 26: 254-263 [Abstract]  

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