Patient-centred care is a model of care that respects the patient's experience, values, needs and preferences in the planning, co-ordination and delivery of care. A central component of this model is a therapeutic relationship between the patient and the team of healthcare professionals. The implementation of a patient-centred care model has been shown to contribute to improved outcomes for patients, better use of resources, decreased costs and increased satisfaction with care. This article provides an overview of the barriers to providing patient-centred care and identifies strategies that can be implemented to overcome them.
Keywords: consumer participation; patient engagement; patient-centred care; person-centred care; shared decision making; therapeutic relationship.