How can I get Conversation Maps for my practice?

The Conversation Maps are for Healthcare professionals only. If you are a patient, please ask your healthcare provider about participating in a Conversation Map session. Healthcare professionals can get their own set of Conversation Maps by attending a 2-3 hour training session in your area. The training and set of Conversation Maps are complimentary. Register here for a training session near you.

The Merck Journey for Control™ program is proud to sponsor the US diabetes Conversation Maps.

What is a Conversation Map?

A Conversation Map is a series of images and metaphors on a 3 feet (.91 meters) by 5 feet (1.52 meters) tabletop display. It serves as a facilitation tool for healthcare professionals to use to engage groups of patients in conversations around a healthcare topic such as diabetes, heart health or obesity.

How is a Conversation Map Used?

The healthcare professional places the Conversation Map on a tabletop and sits around the table with patients. The healthcare professional uses the facilitator’s guide to help navigate through the Conversation Map. The healthcare professional engages 3-10 patients in interactive activities that identify facts and myths around the healthcare topic and uncover information on key topics related to the health condition.

What Makes Conversation Maps Work?

The Conversation Maps are designed to transform health education. Health educators use the tools to engage patients in conversations that facilitate discovery learning which lead to patients identifying and making behavior changes.

How Do Conversation Maps fit into Healthcare Education?

Conversation Maps are used by healthcare professionals that deliver education to patients. The Conversation Maps can be used by any healthcare professional and each Conversation Map takes about 60 to 90 minutes to go through.

How is the Conversation Map Content Developed?

Healthyi partners with the leading and most respected disease associations and market influencers in order to develop Conversation MapsTM and related tools with the most accurate and respected content. Healthyi currently has multi-year partnerships with:

• Canadian Diabetes Association
• American Diabetes Association
• Dietitians of Canada
• Diabetes United Kingdom

Where Else are Conversation Maps Used?

Conversation Maps were launched in Canada in 2005 and as of March 2006, over 65% of diabetes educators in Canada have been trained to use Conversation Maps in their practices. See the Case Study for more details.

Overview of Conversation Map Process:

The Conversation Maps utilize several components to support the learning process. They include:

1 The Conversation Map Visual - The Map visual (or simply "Map") creates a "common mental model" or picture for all participants to learn from and discuss. It is a 3' by 5' colorful picture or metaphor that the group will focus on and navigate during the session.
2 The Conversation Questions - The conversation questions are read by the facilitator and serve as the "instructions" for the Map session. While the conversation questions have been focus group tested to ensure certain learning goals are achieved, they are intended to be flexible so all types of groups can navigate the process and benefit from it. The conversation questions prompt the participants to discuss a variety of topics at various points throughout the session.
3 The Discussion Cards - Discussion cards are used to bring additional information and engagement to the sessions. They have a game-like feel and help engage participants in the learning process.
4 The Group (participants) - Conversation Maps are designed to be used with groups of 3 to 10 participants. This provides enough participants to learn from one another, but not too many that it becomes a real challenge to facilitate. Everyone should be able to learn from the process and participate in the learning and the doing.
5 The Facilitator - The facilitator role is not like that of a typical lecturer or teacher. In the Conversation Map process, the facilitator uses the structured materials to guide the group conversation and engage participants in a process of exploration and learning. These sessions may feel different than other learning or teaching sessions you have led or attended in the past. They are designed to be fun, interactive, engaging and full of learning no matter who participates. The facilitator's role is to create a non-threatening environment in which participants can learn from the materials presented, from one another and from the facilitator.
6 Action Plan - An important aspect of the Conversation Map process is providing participants with a process by which they can plan changes in their decision-making and behaviors. In some cases the action plan is robust, while in other cases it provides a starting point for participants with which to experiment.