Table 1.

Recommendations for designing a patient education initiative.

• Conduct a problem analysis prior to developing an education programme [25].

• Research both the patient's health needs and beliefs [26] and the health professional's agenda [27].

• Use a theoretical model [25].

• Design an intervention to deliver clinical benefits, as well as educational benefits [26].

• Ensure the aims, content and endpoints of a patient education initiative are congruent [27].

• Organise group education and involve partners [28].

• Learn what are existing patient health beliefs and modify if necessary [28].

• Include opportunities whereby patients can learn and develop the skills necessary to overcome adverse habits, in order to encourage behaviour change [11]; these may be self-management techniques, problem-solving or self-efficacy techniques [26,29].

• Encourage goal setting and redefine unrealistic goals [28].

• Provide feedback [28].

• Evaluate the programme [25].