Patient Education, Engagement, and Activation for Chronic Pancreatitis Patients and Care Partners

Abstract

Background and Review of Literature: Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive disease with significant symptomatology, which can severely impact an individual’s quality of life as well as their activities of daily living. The disease is difficult to diagnose and difficult understand. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop and implement an individualized, face-to-face patient education, engagement, and activation session in effort to increase the level of patient and care partner knowledge of the CP disease process, improve patient and care partner expectations of care management, and increase patient and care partner involvement in their own care Methods: Ten-item surveys were administered for data collection both before and after the implementation of an education session specific to chronic pancreatitis. Implementation Plan/Procedure: A ten item survey was administered to enrolled participants. The goal of this survey was to gauge the patient and care partner knowledge level on topics related to chronic pancreatitis as well as strategies for their own involvement in that care, both before and after the education session. After the survey was administered the project coordinator implemented a disease specific education session lasting 30-60 minutes. After the education was completed, an identical survey was administered. Implications/Conclusion: Overall the total score results on the post survey, after the education, were improved and statistically significant (p = 0.007). This value reveals evidence a change has occurred after the implementation of education.