Philosophical basis
Philosophical basis of Empowering Patient Education, EPE, emphasises the patients' rights to know about their health, health-related problems, treatment and care. The essential basis for patient education is knowledge of patients' health: without knowledge patients' action is difficult. Patients' right to get information is prescribed by Finnish law (785/92). This means a special importance of ethics in PE.
EPE has its roots in the concept of empowerment and in social-psychological theories and constructive learning theory, but it has been developed for nursing and health care purposes. Empowerment is a level of of experiencing power in one's own life and it is basis for health.
Philosophical basis of EPE is partly created in two EU-funded projects: Patients autonomy, privacy and informed consent (1998-2001 Biomed) and Ethical codes (2002-2005).