Passport To Successful Consultations: New Patient Resource Launched At EULAR Congress

Doctors are often unable to recognise patient dissatisfaction and address concerns(1) has prompted EULAR Social Leagues and its campaigning arm, PARE (People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe) Manifesto to develop a tool to improve doctor/patient communications as one of their World Arthritis Day projects under the theme of 'small things matter'.


Studies(1,2,3) further reveal that missed communication opportunities between doctors and patients can impact on key outcomes, such as compliance with treatments and quality of life.


Recognising the need to help improve doctor/patient communications from both perspectives, EULAR Social Leagues have developed a Health Passport. The Health Passport is an A5 booklet, which has been developed by patients in cooperation with doctors to capture the clinical information doctors need, together with a monthly record of the patient's experience of living with their arthritis/rheumatism.


Information gathered in the Health Passport provides a comprehensive record, which can be referenced as an aide memoir both when preparing for a consultation and during the consultation.


The average length of consultations in primary care in Europe is around ten minutes (4). The aim of the Health Passport is to help patients and doctors use these ten minutes effectively.


"Doctors and patients have different needs and expectations from a consultation, but it is important that both are met within the allotted time. The Health Passport is designed to help facilitate more effective communication between doctors and patients and improve satisfaction with the outcomes of the consultation from both perspectives," says Professor Anthony Woolf, medical consultant to the project.


Belgium is the first country to develop the Health Passports in both Dutch and French led by patient organisations ReumaNet and CLAIR respectively. Evaluation forms were provided to both those trying out the passports over a test period and their doctors. Feedback has been very positive from both doctors and patients.


"The passport helps me prepare and remember important questions to ask my doctor. It also helps me evaluate and put into perspective whether my condition is improving or getting worse, as well as providing detailed information about my treatments, medications, activities and emotional control. As such, it can play a key role in my treatment programme and pain management," said Sophie, one of the Belgian patients testing the Health Passport.


"This is a very good initiative. The Health Passport helps patients to be more precise when describing their symptoms and concerns related to their condition. By using the Passport patients learn what kind of information is important for their doctor when making decisions about the treatment," said the rheumatologist of one of the patients using a Health Passport in Belgium.


"The Belgium pilot has demonstrated that Health Passports can make a huge difference to patients and doctors, so we are now calling on other countries to develop their own versions," says Robert Johnstone, Chair of PARE Manifesto and working group that developed the Health Passport.


A copy of the Health Passport can be downloaded in English from the World Arthritis Day website (worldarthritisday) Design templates and support materials will be available for Social Leagues to adapt and translate from the end of June.


EULAR CONGRESS PRESS OFFICE

30 Orange Street

eular