Book excerpt: Effective Patient Education helps health professionals and students develop the skills and knowledge to conduct effective patient education in a highly efficient way. It emphasizes a team approach to patient education, recognizing that, because of the complexity of health care, many health professionals are involved in patient care. This book is therefore written for nurses, physicians, physical therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals who share responsibility to guide their patients in enhancing and maintaining health and well-being.Effective patient education is a way of communicating that fosters a partnership between the patient and health professional. It involves more than giving information and instruction. In order to conduct effective patient education, health professionals must recognize that individual patient variables influence the degree to which a patient will follow health advice. The health professional can assess the patient's preexisting beliefs and attitudes, fears and anxieties, and individual life and family circumstances in order to communicate health recommendations in accordance with individual patient needs.