Concepts and measures of patient empowerment: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the definitions and dimensions of empowerment. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of empowerment measures based on the conceptual model. Method: This was a comprehensive literature review of publications on the MEDLINE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Results: Twenty-nine articles were selected. Seventeen definitions and seven dimensions of empowerment, and 10 empowerment measures were selected. Empowerment can be seen as an enabling process involving a shift in the balance of power, or as an outcome of this process. The dimensions reflect outcome indicators, such as participation in decisionmaking and control, and process indicators, such as knowledge acquisition and coping skills. Six of the tools analyzed by this study could be said to provide a robust measure of patient empowerment. Conclusion: we propose a definition of empowerment that helps to deepen understanding of the term and, therefore, its operationalization.

Patient empowerment in Europe: is no further research needed?

“…Born as a reaction to societal oppression and inequality, the term was soon adopted in other disciplines (starting with psychology), and transformed into a multidisciplinary concept [3]. Essentially, the idea of empowerment implies that any human being has the potential to make choices and gain control of her/his own life [4], Thus, personal abilities may be enhanced through social processes of behavior change, to help people meet their own needs [5].…”

“…Similarly, the European Network on Patient Empowerment (ENOPE)-a non-profit association established in 2012 to bring together organizations that implement PE programs across Europe-defines PE as 'a process to help people gain control, which includes people taking the initiative, solving problems, and making decisions' [15]. According to the latest European review [9], there are now 21 PE definitions worldwide (7 of them replicated by the same authors), while the penultimate review [3] had counted 17 a little earlier.…”

“…Ten measures of PE as health outcome have also been recently identified in the literature [3], four from the USA, four from the UK, one from Canada and one from Iran. However, a previous review [16] found significant methodological shortcomings in the available measures, mainly due to a lack of clarity on the PE concept.…”

“…Although a high level of health literacy is necessary to enhance PE [20], it is not enough because PE requires a behavioral change too [3]. As a consequence, a high level of health literacy without a corresponding high degree of PE still keeps patients unnecessarily dependent on physicians, while a high degree of PE without a corresponding degree of health literacy increases the risk of patients making dangerous health choices [19].…”

Cuidados De Enfermagem Para Pessoas Com Diabetes Mellitus E Hipertensão Arterial: Mapeamento Cruzado

“…(18) . (20) . Assim, uma estratégia para trabalhar o empoderamento em pessoas com HAS e DM, é estimular a participação ativa do indivíduo na elaboração do seu plano de cuidados durante a consulta de enfermagem, ressaltando a sua responsabilidade para o êxito dos resultados almejados.…”