Patients as Partners in Treatment

Abstract

This symposium is motivated by the disparity between the careful and productive Human Factors research now devoted to hospitals and professional equipment on the one hand and the more limited attention given to the daunting challenges facing patients and potential patients outside the formal health care system. Patients must use health-screening resources; seek and understand medical advice; select, initiate, and adhere to health maintenance regimes; and follow home-based treatments often with little feedback or supervision. For chronic disorders, treatment demands can last a lifetime. For the elderly, age related barriers complicate interactions with professionals. This symposium shows how Human Factors is now helping people become more active and effective partners in detection, prevention, and treatment. The research presented will span varied disorders with strikingly different adherence and management demands. This technical, interface, and instructional complexity calls for a more integrated approach to supporting patients as they manage their health.