Helping Manage Chronic Diseases with Conversation Map^® Programs

The Disconnect Between Health Education and Better Health

Chronic conditions are the major cause of death and disability worldwide.* Helping people lead healthier lives can go a long way toward reducing the negative impact of chronic conditions. To lead healthier lives, people must first understand how their lifestyles and everyday choices impact their health and risk factors over the long-term. However, education is not enough. People must be engaged in their own health to put what they learn into action. Traditional health-education methods can give them the information they need, but the learning experience may not engage and empower them to use what they learn in their everyday lives.

* World Health Organization, “Facts Related to Chronic Diseases,” 2009.

The Impact of Healthy Living*

Healthier diets, increased physical activity and stopping smoking can help prevent up to:

• 80% of coronary heart disease
• 90% of type 2 diabetes cases
• 1/3 of cancer cases

Empowering People to Better Manage and Prevent Chronic Diseases

Conversation Map programs are developed to help a people living with chronic diseases learn relevant information they can use to improve their health. Each program is developed for a specific chronic condition. The Conversation Map education tools are created to focus on important topics related to that chronic condition. By offering a variety of topical sessions, each Conversation Map program can be tailored to meet the learning needs of each participant.

During Conversation Map sessions, participants living with or at risk for a chronic condition share their personal successes and struggles. A trained facilitator leads them through the Conversation Map education tools, providing credible, up-to-date information participants can relate to their own experiences. At the end of each session, participants create achievable plans for incorporating what they’ve learned into their everyday disease management and self-care.

By helping people achieve Personal Health Engagement^®, Conversation Map programs can contribute to the prevention and successful management of any chronic condition, including: