Empowerment

Abstract

Patient empowerment is a recent phenomenon impacting the evolving nature of the relationship between individuals seeking medical assistance and the doctors who provide that assistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate how patient empowerment affects the traditional medical relationship between patients with HIV/AIDS and their physicians. This study employed a basic interpretive qualitative design that used in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews for data collection. The sample of 14 purposefully selected individuals living with HIV/AIDS reflected diversity in terms of gender, age, race/ethnicity, number of years living with HIV/AIDS, and number of physicians seen for treatment. Data analysis guided by the constant comparative method revealed three themes: Patient empowerment (1) situates responsibility with the patient, (2) redefines patients' perceptions and expectations of their physicians, and (3) promotes a partnership approach to health care.