Patient teaching or patient counselling?

Careless or eonfused use of terms sueh as information giving, teaehing and eounselling may lead to inadequate understanding and practice. In view ofthe progress made in this area, designed to help patients eope with illness and treatment, this paper aims to elarify and identify similarities and differenees between these aetivities and discuss their relevance for those in most need of these types of eare. Having recognised the complexity and persistence of sueh needs, patients,* their relatives and nurses should perhaps decide their respective roles and work towards improving the quality of and opportunities for sueh interventions.