Réflexions autour du diagnostic éducatif

The presence of the chronic disease affects profoundly the life plan of the patient. To assist him for an improved healthcare self-management, the healthcare professional is brought to be not only interested in clinical and biological data, but also in psychoaffective, socioprofessional, educational and motivational fields. It is the only way to have an educational strategy integrated within health care. The educational diagnosis based on the patient's expression of his/her disease experience is the first step to propose an educational process making sense for the patient. The analogy with medical diagnosis may induce an inappropriate health professionals' expert attitude at the opposite of an educational process. It is not a patient interview, but a space for dialogue and exchange that is going to lead to a real partnership between the patient and his/her medical team. Team, because it is a multidisciplinary approach centered on patient who induces his/her active participation for improving his/her health. It imposes to the professionals the acquisition of a dual care and educational competence, requiring a specific training.