Right Question –
Effective Patient Strategy

An Evidence-Based Approach to Patient Activation

The Right Question-Effective Patient Strategy (RQ-EPS) makes it possible for all patients, no matter their level of education, to more effectively:

• partner with healthcare providers
• participate in decisions that affect them
• navigate the healthcare system
• take more ownership of their own health

The Right Question-Effective Patient Strategy  can be easily integrated into regular interactions with patients and existing opportunities for patient education. Health educators, providers, and support staff can use the Right Question Strategy to:

• Teach patients how to generate and prioritize their questions and focus on decisions about healthcare concerns and treatment
• Encourage reluctant and hesitant patients to ask their questions
• Support patient efforts to participate more actively in their own healthcare
• Promote more patient-provider shared decision making

The passive patient…	The effective patient…
Shows up without preparation Waits for doctor’s instructions Is afraid to voice his or her own concerns Forgets or feels frustrated and confused by doctor’s advice	Prepares a written list of priority questions before the visit Asks questions and follows up until he or she understands Participates in decision making

RQ-EPS Successes in Community Health Settings:

Two studies in urban community health settings showed marked increases in patient activation. One of the studies found that those patients who initially scored the lowest on the Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®) saw the greatest improvement following use of the RQ-EPS.

Learn more about the Right Question-Effective Patient Strategy and its successful application by visiting our Healthcare Resources pages below:

Activating Community Health Center Patients » Patient Activation in Mental Health Care »

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