Chiropractic Patient Education: The Evidence-Based Model
Reading time: 5 minutes
This blog shares some potent research and practical tips about patient education, but before we get into that, I have one crucial question: Are you more fond of lightbulbs… or bowling balls?
“Billy, your lightbulb is dim today. That’s because you have some very serious nerve interference in your neck. Let me examine you and then give you an adjustment to get your lightbulb shining brightly. I have found the more adjustments you receive to your rheostat; the brighter your lightbulb becomes and the longer it stays bright.”
“Mary, your forward head posture is like a bowling ball that has rolled partially off the edge of this table, and your muscles are tired of holding it up. That excess work is also compressing & irritating your neck joints. I can fix the joint restrictions, but there’s little hope for long-term resolution without also correcting your muscle imbalance. So, I’ll teach you exercises and workstation advice to help you move that ball back onto the table and give your muscles and joints a break.”
The painfully obvious fact is that chiropractic patient education spans the gamut from nauseating to empowering. If you just cut and pasted the first example into your new patient welcome class script, I’ll save you some time - you can probably stop reading now. But, if there’s a hint of bile still lingering in your mouth, we hope you’ll enjoy this refreshing blog with three essential concepts for the new era of evidence-based chiropractic patient education.
1. Why Patient Education Is Essential
The healthcare industry is racing towards rewarding a patient-centric approach, and patient engagement metrics play a significant role. Effectively engaging patients in their care journey is vital to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and increase provider and patient satisfaction levels. (3)
An educated patient is an empowered patient.
Applying educational strategies helps patients clearly understand their conditions and improves their health literacy. Understanding their condition makes patients more comfortable with their care and increases adherence to treatment plans.
Research reveals that patients who are educated about their care are more equipped to actively engage in their care and inform providers of potential issues with their treatment. Patient education facilitates shared-decision making between patients and their providers and empowers patients to take control of their health. And when a patient is empowered to take control of their health, they are more likely to achieve better clinical outcomes. (8-14)
Research confirms that patient education programs provide numerous benefits.
Increased patient satisfaction
The extent to which a provider explains a condition and treatment to the patient impacts patient satisfaction levels. (6) The better a patient understands their health, the greater the likelihood they will be satisfied. And an increase in satisfaction is significantly linked to the patient's loyalty. (7) Patient education and patient engagement go hand-in-hand. (4)
Improved clinical outcomes
Patients who adhere to their prescribed home exercise programs have better clinical outcomes (8-14) with lower chances of recurrent injuries and flareups. In addition, patient education leads to decreased recovery time with fewer complications. (15) Conversely, those who decline to play an active role in their recovery through home exercise may extend the duration of care and negatively impact the doctor-patient relationship. (11,16)
Increased compliance to treatment plans
Implementing patient education strategies significantly improves adherence. (17) Patient education improves compliance because patients can clearly understand their health. And a lack of adherence leads to poor clinical outcomes, lower quality of life, and higher overall health costs. (17)
Decreased provider liability
The patient and provider have a partnership with dual responsibility. Providers have the responsibility of educating patients on achieving optimal health, while patients have the responsibility to act on the information the provider gives them. (20) A provider fulfills their responsibility through effectively educating patients on their conditions, treatments, and ADL modifications.
A more efficient and cost-effective healthcare system
Increased compliance allows for more efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery because better outcomes are achieved more quickly (19). “In the context of escalating health care costs and shocking future cost projections, the potential for improved health outcomes through patient education and self-management programs is immense.” (21)
2. What Patient Education Must Include
Cover the basics
Every patient needs four answers about their condition:
What’s causing my symptoms?
Can your treatment help me?
How long will I need treatment?
What do I need to change? (i.e., Exercises and ADLs)
Relay the problem
The first step in any recovery program is to recognize the problem. Patients who clearly understand the etiology of their pain are more likely to take action. Providers must ensure that each patient understands what’s causing their problem and how that dysfunction contributes to their symptoms. Many times, this involves a discussion of functional deficits. Be sure to reinforce that while your treatment can provide relief, a lasting solution will likely require correcting faulty postures and movements through rehab exercise.
Use text and pictures
It is not sufficient to only provide verbal patient education during their visits because patients are notoriously unable to recall the information effectively. In fact, one study revealed patients could only remember 40% of the correct information during their visit, while 48% was imagined or misconstrued. (22) Not surprisingly, patients do not implement 1/3 to 2/3 of all home exercise regimens due to the lack of education surrounding them. (25-28)
Patient education strategies should incorporate both written and visual materials to reinforce the verbal information the provider gave to the patient during their visit. Written materials with graphic enhancements allow patients to better retain the information with improved compliance to care plans. (23) Patients who know they are performing a task correctly are more likely to adhere. (24)
Deliver information electronically
Technology is an excellent tool to distribute patient education materials. Technology is the preferred method in the eyes of chiropractic patients. Ninety-one percent of chiropractic patients reported that they are more likely to choose a chiropractor who utilizes multimedia patient education materials over a chiropractor who does not. (29) However, only 12% of patients stated that their chiropractors had used mobile devices to distribute patient education. (29)
In addition to mobile devices, patient portals are another untapped resource in the chiropractic industry as 51% of chiropractic patients have never been offered access to a patient portal, and 28% are unaware of what a patient portal is. (29) These untapped resources can provide immense value to chiropractors and their patients as they offer an efficient and seamless way to access health and education information. When patients access information in a patient portal on a mobile device, they become more engaged and empowered.
3. How to Automate Patient Education
Use an IT partner
Finding time to provide consistent optimal patient education can be challenging. Healthcare providers may consider health IT vendors that ease this patient education process. Health IT can automate data collection and patient education, ensuring every patient receives educational messaging. (30) Health IT can also help deliver the experience patients expect. Patients have become more aware consumers of healthcare services and expect to become more active participants in their care. A technological approach to patient education increases patients' access and allows them to engage more actively in their care.
Choose one who lives and breathes chiropractic
There are many options for patient education ranging from printed one-size-fits-all condition explainer brochures to customizable physical-therapy-based exercise apps. But having a partner who relays the nuances of YOUR brand of chiropractic care is essential.
ChiroUp is that partner. Automate your care and empower your patient’s role in their recovery with reports that are:
Condition-specific with exercises & recommendations
Customizable to your care
Branded to your clinic
Mobile-friendly with a patient app! - Healthcom.io
And if you’re going to invest in a patient education partner, why not invest in that is run by practicing chiropractors and whose stated mission is to “Advance chiropractic care as the undeniable best choice for patient and payors alike.”
Summary
Prior studies have shown that evidence-based chiropractors significantly outperform their non-evidence-based peers. (2) And those who can effectively relay that information to their patients perform even better. (6-17) ChiroUp is proud to be your partner for automated patient education. And if you’re not yet a subscriber, you’ll want to get started with your 14-day free trial. Prescribe a patient report in seconds and start automating your care today.
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