Stanford Patient Education Research Center

The Stanford Patient Education Research Center is part of the Department of Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine, located in Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.  For nearly 3 decades, we have developed, tested, and evaluated self-management programs for English and Spanish speakers with chronic health problems. All of their programs are designed to help people gain self-confidence in their ability to control their symptoms and how their health problems affect their lives. Their small-group workshops are given in community settings and on the Internet. They are facilitated by two leaders/moderators with health problems of their own. The workshops are highly interactive, focusing on building skills, sharing experiences, and support.

Their main mission, however, is research. They only develop and offer programs that we test for effectiveness with randomized, controlled trials that are funded by research grants and span two to five years. The aim of all of our programs is to improve the physical and emotional health of participants while reducing health care costs.

Their professional staff of health educators has been working together for up to twenty-four years, and are highly respected in the field of health education and nursing. Their publication list of books, consumer articles and peer-reviewed journal articles is extensive. They have served as technical consultants both nationally and internationally.