Concepts and measures of patient empowerment: a comprehensive review

Authors

  • Paloma Garcimartín Cerezo Instituto Hospital del Mar de Investigaciones Médicas
  • Maria-Eulália Juvé-Udina Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge
  • Pilar Delgado-Hito Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-623420160000500018

Keywords:

Patient Participation, Power, Self Efficacy, Decision Making, Personal Autonomy, Review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Analyze the definitions and dimensions of empowerment. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of empowerment measures based on the conceptual model. METHOD This was a comprehensive literature review of publications on the MEDLINE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. RESULTS Twenty-nine articles were selected. Seventeen definitions and seven dimensions of empowerment, and 10 empowerment measures were selected. Empowerment can be seen as an enabling process involving a shift in the balance of power, or as an outcome of this process. The dimensions reflect outcome indicators, such as participation in decision-making and control, and process indicators, such as knowledge acquisition and coping skills. Six of the tools analyzed by this study could be said to provide a robust measure of patient empowerment. CONCLUSION we propose a definition of empowerment that helps to deepen understanding of the term and, therefore, its operationalization.

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Published

2016-08-01

Issue

Section

Review

How to Cite

Concepts and measures of patient empowerment: a comprehensive review. (2016). Revista Da Escola De Enfermagem Da USP, 50(4), 667-674. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-623420160000500018