The Knowledgeable Patient: Communication and Participation in Health - A Cochrane Handbook (CBS- Cochrane Book Series)

This book sits at the forefront of the challenging, changing 21st century health landscape. The 'knowledgeable patient' as an individual can take many forms: patient, family carer, consumer advocate or member of the public interested in health issues. In each of these roles, knowledgeable patients interact with health professionals by asking questions about the evidence for treatment, seeking support, exchanging views and contributing experience and new ideas on how to improve the health system.

Drawing from several research paradigms, The Knowledgeable Patient is an essential guide to a new era of complex healthcare. Integrating consumer stories and evidence from systematic reviews, it examines key communication and participation issues in a range of contexts. It is international in scope with researched examples spanning the community, health services, governance and policy making.

Its purpose is to provide health professionals and consumers with new ideas, concepts, evidence and practical tools to understand the central role of communication and participation to a well–functioning health system. It is an ideal reference for students studying the health sciences.