User empowerment Health Dictionary

Involves individuals acting collectively to gain greater influence and control over the determinants of health and the quality of life in their communities. Community empowerment is an important goal in community action for health.... community empowerment

A process through which people gain greater control over decisions and actions affecting their lives. It is the process by which disadvantaged individuals or groups acquire the knowledge and skills needed to assert their rights.... empowerment for health

At a personal level, the engagement of individuals in decisions about their health and about the diagnosis, treatment and after-care of their illness, injuries and other disorders. At a public level, the engagement of all members of the public in the planning, provision and performance of their health-care services. Traditionally, at both personal and public levels, the patient has generally been regarded as naturally subordinate to the politicians and managers who plan and run the health-care system(s), and to health professionals and medical institutions who provide personal health care. The public and patients are increasingly unwilling to accept this traditional model and are asserting themselves, for example through patient help groups, complaints, litigation and local political action with the aim of securing changes in how health care is organised and a much greater say in their own care.... patient empowerment

The involvement of users in the decision-making and evaluation of issues, such as in the provision of community services. direct user involvement: When service users, for example, are involved directly in decision-making. indirect user involvement: This entails information gathering by professionals in order to inform service delivery and development.... user involvement

See “client quality”.... user quality

n. giving or returning power to someone. Being ill is usually experienced as losing the ability to act as one wishes, and full recovery may only be achieved when the individual feels able to make their own decisions. This may be a problem where professionals insist on deciding for patients with certain conditions (e.g. mental illness). Empowerment involves action to redress the lack or *loss, for instance by offering explanation in a language, style, and level that is appropriate. See also autonomy; feminist ethics; paternalism.... empowerment