Why does information transfer stop short of shared understanding—and how can education help?
Despite unprecedented access to medical innovation, a persistent disconnect remains: patients often feel left out of the very progress designed to help them.
Why? The reason is a communication chasm.
One critical pathway linking communication to health outcomes is the patient’s ability to access and understand relevant information¹. While clinicians may feel confident in how they deliver information, patients often leave feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unsure of what it means for their daily lives and long-term health.
Medical education must evolve beyond one-way knowledge transfer. If education focuses only on what clinicians need to know—but not on how to communicate that knowledge effectively to patients—then gaps in understanding will persist, and shared decision-making will remain an aspiration rather than a reality.
At Medlive, we ensure that educational experiences are not just about consuming the latest data, but about creating alignment between clinicians and the people they serve.
As part of Medlive’s Patient-Centered Education (PCE) approach, Medlive Updates translates emerging evidence into accessible language and actionable insights, equipping patients and their caregivers with the knowledge they need to engage confidently in treatment conversations.
Whether it’s understanding how a new therapy might affect their care plan or gaining clarity on clinical trial results, Medlive Updates ensures patients aren’t left behind as science moves forward—they’re brought along: informed, empowered, and engaged in their decision-making.
How can education better support patient engagement and shared decision-making to bridge the client-patient disconnect? We’d love to hear your perspective—comment below or reach out at hello@medlive.com.
About Patient-Centered Perspectives
Patient-Centered Perspectives is a new thought leadership series from Medlive, providing expert insights on the evolving role of education in improving patient care and clinical decision-making.
References
Street, Richard L., et al. “How does communication heal? pathways linking clinician–patient communication to health outcomes.” Patient Education and Counseling, vol. 74, no. 3, Mar. 2009, pp. 295–301, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.11.015.
