Glossary
Glossary
Consumer (health): Patients and potential patients, carers and organisations representing consumers' interests
Evaluation: A systematic analysis of the merit or significance of social interaction, a presentation or program for the support group members.
Governance: The set of processes and policies and responsibilities that the support group establishes to govern the running of the group. Governance includes recognition of the laws and regulations established through legislation. Governance requires that all individuals in positions of authority are accountable to the members for the support group's functioning in all areas such as legislative, financial and program maintenance.
Health Literacy; Health literacy is the ability to obtain, read, understand and use health care information to make appropriate health decisions and follwo instructions for treatment.
Needs Assessment: An exploration of the needs of those who will participate in, or are potential participants in a support group, to ensure that the group's focus and activities will meet the participants' needs.
Patient: A person receiving health care. Synonyms for 'patient' include 'consumer' and 'client'.
Pre-test/post-test: These tests are generally a questionnaire and sometimes called a survey tool. The same questionnaire is run at the beginning of a program (pre-test) with all participants and then at the end (post-test) with the same participants to see whether participation in the program has benefited them.
Strategic planning: Generally involves setting goals and priorities for the support group, and then planning how these goals will be achieved. A strategic plan can be developed by the whole group with the help of a facilitator or it can be developed by the group's executive members. However it is developed all members should have the opportunity to comment and it should be formally adopted by the whole group so it is fully supported.
Training: The development of knowledge and skills.
Well-being: There is no single definition of well-being but there is agreement that it predominates when people experience positive emotions and moods such as feeling happy and fulfilled as well as having a sense of control in their lives.