Bridges, why and from where to where?

Abstract

Therapeutic intervention for chronic diseases does not rely only on drugs but is also strictly dependent on how the patient has been informed about his disease and how he is able to master the various skills required by his treatment. Education therefore plays a fundamental role in the efficacy of control of those diseases. But what is education? Among the various possible definitions, one could be metaphorically illustrated by bridges. How to get the message across from the medical world to that of the patient, or, inside the medical professions from one group of providers to another. Different bridges may have different functions or roles. One is for commuting in the current daily life. Another one is to ensure vital needs. Bridges help also to discover new territories, but any new visitor may not always be welcomed in these new regions. Bridges need to be solidly constructed with a structure which can be methodologically described. This may help repair in case of problems. Patient education is a kind of bridge submitted to all sorts of forces and barriers which may interfere with the passage of knowledge and skills from the health care providers to the patient and his family.