Development and co-construction of a therapeutic patient education program for albinism

Abstract

BackgroundLong-term and ongoing support in accordance with the changing needs of patients and their families is one of the main components of patient care, including therapeutic patient education (TPE). ObjectiveTo co-construct a TPE program for albinism with all those involved in the management of albinism patients. MethodsEight steps have been defined for the co-construction process: 1) identify all the relevant experts and invite them to participate in the construction of a TPE program to improve care for and support of patients with albinism, 2) review and analyse all publications regarding TPE for albinism, 3) conduct semi-structured interviews with the patients’ parents, 4) conduct brainstorming meetings with the participating experts for an exchange of experience and expertise, 5) elaborate the program's concrete content with the experts, 6) draw up a TPE skills checklist, 7) create TPE educational tools to facilitate learning, 8) review and summarize each step of the co-construction protocol. ResultsCo-construction of a TPE program for children, adolescents, and young adults with albinism, and their parents. ConclusionStrengths and advantages of the co-construction process include: i) highlighting of the experiential knowledge mentioned in the repository, ii) multiplicity of points of view and perspectives, iii) rapid improvement in TPE training both for the association and the patients, iv) awareness of the shift caregivers’ position with regards to TPE and recognition of the polysemy of their discourse. The TPE program for albinism has been authorized since 2018.