France is bolstering support for patient education programs aimed at improving the lives of individuals managing chronic illnesses. These efforts center around Unités Transversales d’Éducation du Patient (UTEPs), or Cross-Functional Patient Education Units, which assist healthcare teams in developing and implementing effective educational initiatives.
The core principle behind UTEPs is to empower patients with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate their conditions, adapt their lifestyles and actively participate in their own care. This approach recognizes that chronic disease management extends beyond clinical treatment, encompassing self-management, understanding of the illness, and collaboration with healthcare providers.
UTEPs function as support structures for healthcare teams, contributing to the structuring and coordination of patient education efforts within healthcare facilities and across regional health networks. Their primary mission is to foster the development of patient education, specifically by assisting teams in designing and implementing programs, facilitating coordination among healthcare professionals, and ensuring the quality and evaluation of educational actions.
According to the CHU de Toulouse, an UTEP was established there in 2025 under the medical leadership of Professor Hélène Hanaire. The unit’s work is focused on promoting patient autonomy in managing chronic diseases, in collaboration with both patients and their caregivers.
The services offered by UTEPs are varied. They provide methodological support for program design and evaluation, coordinate education programs within institutions, offer training and awareness initiatives for healthcare professionals, and provide access to pedagogical tools and methodological resources. They also facilitate the sharing of experiences and best practices among teams involved in patient education.
UTEPs typically operate within healthcare establishments as cross-functional support and coordination centers. They collaborate with medical, paramedical teams, and territorial partners to develop ETP programs tailored to patient needs. Teams within UTEPs are multidisciplinary, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, psychologists, and education coordinators.
In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, UTEPs are primarily located within hospital establishments and operate at the scale of their institution or territory. Teams wishing to implement or evolve an education program are encouraged to contact a UTEP in their area and submit a declaration of the program to the regional health agency (ARS).
The CHU Lille reports that its UTEP, established in 2011, currently supports 27 adult and 14 pediatric education programs, assisting approximately 3,000 patients annually. Programs cover a range of conditions, including rare pulmonary diseases, diabetes, and allergies. The Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg also operate a “Maison de l’Éducation Thérapeutique” (House of Therapeutic Education) which hosts over 50 programs for nearly 7,000 patients.
The CHU de Brest defines therapeutic patient education as an ongoing process integrated into care, aimed at helping patients manage their lives with chronic illness.
