6.0 of this article can be downloaded to your hard drive. The need for patient education is greater now than ever before. Today's patients have become educated consumers, who are very aware of medical treatments and technologies. Their favorite magazines feature articles and health columns on how to prevent disease and disorders, and bookstore shelves bulge with volumes on how to lead a healthier life.
Some patients are very aggressive in their search for information.
They collect articles in newspapers and magazines, hunt for authoritative studies in scientific journals, and browse through the Internet. They call and write medical associations to find out if there are endorsements or position statements on procedures. The discussion gives the patient confidence about the procedure and the orthopaedic surgeon. The researchers found that orthopaedic surgeons believe an educated patient has better results and a faster, more successful recovery. Patient satisfaction is becoming an increasingly important measure of outcome.