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Although information technology (IT) is often argued to have the potential to enable greater patient participation in healthcare delivery, how IT empow ers patients to take charge of their ow n health is a less explored area. This study explores how IT-enabled communication plays a significant role in shaping the patients' psychological empow erment for managing a chronic disease-diabetes. Psychological empow erment reflects a patient's cognitive response and motivation to manage the disease. Tw o dimensions of psychological empow erment relevant in the context of chroni c disease management (e.g., meaning as manifested through perceived education benefits and self-aw areness to enable self-efficacy for effective management) are suggested to have positive effects on life changing interventions and patient satisfaction. We argue that the medium of communication betw een the patients and providers influences the psychological empow erment. Media reinforcement is, thus, hypothesized to impact the relationship betw een sel faw areness and life changing interventions. The conceptual model is tested using archival data collected from a survey of seventy-eight patients that w ere involved in diabetes management education programs. The results indicate that rich media enabled by IT can play a significant role in patient empow erment, and influence the outcome of chronic disease management.

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