Method and a system for teaching and guiding an individual in changing the lifestyle and a method and system for treating an individual

Abstract

A method and a system for teaching and guiding an individual and changing the lifestyle and in building up a health or healthier behaviour includes the step of making a basic assessment of the individual and of defining at least one program to which the individual should attend on the basis of this assessment. The program includes at least teaching, guiding and actively involving the individual and individually gathering personal objective information represented by at least one health indicator. The individual is taught in accordance with a specific learning program in view of understanding a relationship between the objective information and a phenomenon or symptom caused by pathology or functional deficiency. The individual is further taught and guided to understand the effect of specific behaviour and lifestyle on the pathology or functional deficiency. Finally, actions are identified to be taken for changing the lifestyle and for building up a healthier behaviour in view of reducing health problems or health risks.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for teaching and guiding an individual in changing the lifestyle and to a method and a system for treating an individual. [0002] Health care systems in most industrialised countries are in an urgent need for reforming. Costs for health care systems are continuously increasing. In parallel, health problems of societies are increasing rather than decreasing despite highly sophisticated medical systems. [0003] Mood disorder, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and asthma caused 49% of U.S.A.'s health care expenses in 1996. According to U.S.A. CDC health people 2000 midcourse review, the determining factor of health related to lifestyle is 47%, related to environmental issues is 17% and to genetic issues is 25%. The contribution from medical services is only 11%. There is thus a major trend of lifestyle chronic diseases caused by improper lifestyle and living environment in the industrial countries. [000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] In the step of defining actions, the individual may be taught in view of understanding short to medium term actions to be taken to relieve symptoms caused by said pathology or functional deficiency. The short medium term actions are developed according to evidence based clinical guidelines. This step including taking actions will increase the confidence, value and good feeling to the individual.

[0075] In accordance with this aspect of the invention, there is also provided a system for treating an individual which comprises a facility specialised in treatment of a specific class of health problem, a facility for improving the individual's inner healing power, in particular by means of a holistic treatment and a facility for teaching the individual to change his or her lifestyle or behaviour.

Problems solved by technology

In parallel, health problems of societies are increasing rather than decreasing despite highly sophisticated medical systems.

While this concept generally addresses change of health behaviour, nowadays, there are still no effective systems available for change of lifestyle and improper health behaviour.

While these known articles provide theoretical solutions for improving the health system, currently no practical systems and methods are available which focus on the unmet patient's and consumer's needs.

The term of health problems or potential health risks includes specific health problems the individual is aware of, potential health risks the individual is aware of but also problems or health risks which may be unknown to the individual but which may cause a certain risk for the individual to develop health problems at a later stage.

Thus compliance with the medication or education prescription is generally low and the results are poor.

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