Why is Patient Empowerment Important?
In 2006, Dr. Symma Finn, a researcher from the University of Florida doing her PhD thesis in sociology set out to identify what benefits there were to a patient group – specifically Alphas – that were “empowered” or felt a sense of control over their own health. She began to hold meetings with lung and liver-affected Alphas and their caregivers around the country, asking questions about their diagnoses, treatments, relationships with family members and healthcare providers, and discussing whether or not advocacy work, community events, and research participation were viewed as empowering to patients.
