What motivates patients to engage with their healthcare providers?

From the consumer side, the more interested and engaging the health care provider, the more engaged and interested the patient is with their plan of care. This should yield better patient outcomes - key is that the provider needs to be accessible as possible either through technology, their staff, or via direct access to the practitioner. I have found with patients and their families, the easier, clearer and logical the communication and instructions, the more likely they are to follow them

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." Sarah, one of my patients, was battling both a chronic illness and mental health challenges. Instead of just prescribing medications, I wanted to understand her better. I delved into her hopes, fears, and everyday life, uncovering insights that traditional medical assessments might miss. Connecting with Sarah on a deeper level built trust and empowered her to take charge of her healthcare decisions. It's not just about sharing medical knowledge; it's about forming a true partnership where patients feel heard, valued, and an essential part of their own healthcare journey.

convenient access to healthcare resources, including online portals and telemedicine options, can enhance patient motivation to participate actively in managing their health. Overall, when healthcare providers prioritize clear communication, trust, collaboration, and patient-centered care, they are more likely to inspire and sustain patient engagement.

From my perspective, patient engagement is propelled by a combination of factors. Trust plays a pivotal role; when patients feel confident in their healthcare providers, they are more likely to actively participate in their care. Effective communication is another motivator—clear, empathetic dialogue fosters a sense of collaboration and understanding. Accessible information, both about conditions and treatment options, empowers patients to make informed decisions. Positive past experiences, where patients feel heard and respected, contribute to ongoing engagement. Moreover, a healthcare environment that prioritizes patient education and involvement creates a sense of partnership and this motivates them to actively managing their health.

Empowerment, education and shared decision making- have been effective in my career. Taking a moment to explain pathophysiology in laymen terminology, using images, explaining process and allowing one to take ownership of the process has tremendous impact on adherence and follow through.

Mistrust and lack of access are key challenges to fostering excellent patient/provider interactions. Some cultures have a specific history of institutional mistrust based on lived experiences, thus cultural and linguistic concordance are important to establishing trust and carrying out meaningful engagement activities.

Trust is the foundation of the relationship between a healthcare professional and a patient. Trust is created by being attentive to patients, listening to their needs with an empathetic ear, and by taking your time. A relationship cannot be rushed! A provider needs to take his/her time with a patient and answer any of their questions and address any concerns. Over time, trust is created and patients are more likely to listen to the advice and recommendations of their provider.

System compliance is the biggest challenge to successful patient engagement. Once we open the gates for patients to engage then we need to ensure efficient processes to avoid failure. Other challenges include: 1. Transparency in processes. 2. Acceptance and cooperation by care team. 3. Trust between patients and providers needs attention. 4. Efficient technology or channels for engagement are difficult to build. 5. Process efficiency for timely response.

Patients have been underestimated collectively by pharma/ healthcare professionals for a long time. Throw in scandals with pricing, bribery, corruption, providing benefits to HCPs to prescribe medicines and you can understand the distrust and reluctance to engage. Listening to patients and families will provide a holistic perspective of the health concerns and true impact on QoL. Simplifying the science in a easy to comprehend format (use analogies) will help informed discussions. Collaborative decision making is key to adherence. Adherence is more likely with a support system in place. Patient advocates are playing an increasingly prominent role in driving engagement.

Previous negative healthcare experiences or a lack of trust in the healthcare system can impede patient engagement. Some patients may have limited health literacy, making it difficult for them to understand medical information and actively participate in their care. Diverse cultural backgrounds and language differences may pose challenges in effective communication and understanding of healthcare information. Patients may resist adopting new technologies, changing lifestyle behaviors, or embracing preventive measures. Different patient demographics may require tailored approaches to engagement, considering factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and cultural background.

Active listening is key - the patient needs to feel heard, their concerns recognised and their fears addressed. That all takes time, and is one reason why “six minute medicine” is such a failure, drives patients to seek information from other health practitioners and decreases patient satisfaction with some providers.

Health care providers play a big role in patients engagement. Through experience,many patients have commended my services and have been able to share their disatisfaction with other health practitioners.The points raised were... Reception - I make them feel welcome from the moment they enter my office, eye contact, appreciate their visit and cheer them up before they even sit to narrate their health concerns. Helps them feel comfortable. Concentration - I listen tentively when narrating their issues, ask for clarity/dditional information. Engage them - I let them know about my preliminary diagnosis, what my recommendations are. If in agreement then we proceed to confirm the diagnosis, once done, I explain to them about the disease in depth

Drivers of patient engagement include- 1. Personalised support. 2. Timely response and action. 3. Transparency. 4. Willingness to listen and respond to address specific needs. 5. Action cascade protocol to ensure end to end solution is provided when needed. 6. Respectful communication. 7. Predictability. 8. Trust.

1. Digital Health Literacy: Proficiency in using digital health tools. As healthcare becomes increasingly digitized, patients with digital health literacy can effectively navigate online platforms, access information, and engage in telehealth services. 2. Patient-Centered Care-Implementation of patient-centered care models. Healthcare systems that prioritize patient preferences, values, and involvement in decision-making encourage sustained patient engagement. Interoperability of Health Records- Seamless sharing of health information across healthcare systems. Interoperability enhances care coordination and ensures that patients and providers have access to comprehensive health information.

One of the most powerful enablers to drive patient engagement is time. Providing enough time for a patient to feel comfortable, safe and supported will drive engagement and enhance consultation outcomes. Healthcare professionals also need to provide time for a patient to share their story and this means not interrupting and simply listening. This enables a sense of ‘Feeling heard’ - another vital component to promote engagement.

In the clinical setting, I always strive to be candid, professional and direct with patients (black and white; no grey). Managers and clinicians alike must be aware of cultural competence, as well as the tenants that underpin health literacy - e.g. talking to patients at a 6th grade level.

1. Utilize Patient Portals - Offer online platforms where patients can access their health records, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers. 2. Promote Continuity of Care - Implement care coordination measures to ensure smooth transitions between different healthcare providers and phases of care. 3. Encourage Preventive Care - Launch campaigns and initiatives to promote preventive care measures, such as vaccinations, screenings, and lifestyle modifications. 4. Use technology to remotely monitor patients' health conditions, providing proactive interventions when necessary.

Continuity is needed at every stage for best patient engagement. I have been impressed that the financial design changes for 40 years have completely disrupted continuity along with shaping fewer and lesser delivery team members and the least experienced primary care workforce in our history. Where the elderly, the poor, the disabled, and the worst employers are concentrated - the worst quality health insurance plan shapes the deficits and consequences. The delivery team members need to have continuity in specialty, in practice, in the same team, with the same patients. These are denied by design from DRG to RBRVS to the Dartmouth Assumptions and to value based.

"Just like a river that gracefully navigates around obstacles, we too can find our way around challenges. Our resilience lies in our ability to adapt and overcome, not in trying to force our way through." I once had a patient who was struggling with deep despair. He found comfort not only in the medications and therapy sessions we provided but also in the digital tools that allowed us to stay connected and support him beyond the walls of our clinic. We should embrace the synergy between humanity and technology, recognizing that innovation is not a substitute for compassionate care but rather an evolution that amplifies its impact.

Future of patient engagement is digital and it is up to process designers, product developers and healthcare administrators to design, build and run engagement systems based upon Empathy, Credibility and sincere intent to provide a satisfactory experience for patients.

Future is definitely bright for digital health especially in clinical trials made possible by: 1. Mobile apps with capabilities to share data about clinical trials onthe go 2. Use of innovative chat bots driven by generative AI and video conferencing capabilities integrated with the app can help provide e-consent 3. EHR integration with clinical trials and role of FHIR and AI/ ML especially natural language processing capabilities. 4. Seamless data transfer from EHR to EDC and beyond avoiding source data verification. 5. Make data gathering easier by using technologies like electronic patient reported outcomes (standardized scales for pain, quality of life and various other measures). These tools work on byod (bring your own device) model.

Accessibility to their provider is everything. Whenever am patient feels like they’re being shuffled from one MD to the other,ro the point that they can’t even pinpoint who is treating what - it is a very discouraging felling. It literally makes them want to put up the white flag and withdraw. In all of my years of practice that’s what I found as a consistent sentiment on the part of my patients and their families. As a patient advocate - I always try to break through those barriers…for the best outcomes for my patients- and their families.

I once worked with a patient who was struggling with the stigma surrounding mental health. It was clear that medication and therapy alone were not enough to help her. What she really needed was a safe space to share her feelings and experiences. In today's digital age, where information is so readily available, it's more important than ever for patients to feel heard and understood. Digital health technologies can help bridge the gap between patients and providers by providing tools for self-expression, access to personalized health information, and opportunities for collaboration.

The success of healthcare starts and ends with the person being treated. Their experience, journey, outcomes, etc are totally individual to them, as is their native desire to engage and learn about their condition. The role of the healthcare team that supports them through it, is essential. So, it is almost as important to diagnose the hopes and needs of the patient as it is diagnose their condition. As such, at the point of delivery, care can’t be transactional, it must be tailored to the situation. The ‘therapeutic alliance’ is a powerful therapy in and of itself, as it provides for the innate needs of a person facing a difficult time, whilst putting therapeutic approaches in context. Communication is key from start to finish!

All of the information provided is helpful. Personally I want to be engaged in my care because I want to be as healthy as possible without the use of prescribed medications. Motivation is needed to engage and remain engaged.

In addition to feeling that their care is individualized to meet their needs, preferences, and goals, patients are more likely to engage when they receive clear, actionable health information, are listened to, understood, respected, and valued, and are given incentives such as rewards, feedback, recognition, or social support.