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This cross-national comparison study of four health professions is based on review and analysis of professional policy documents and explores the way these selected professions integrate and structure patient education as a professional function. Factors that are internal and external to each of these professions are discussed and compared between the two countries. Professional policy documents related to patient education in nursing, pharmacy, dietetics, and physical therapy are examined in light of changes in dominant concepts of care, changing norms of professional organizations, changes in professional preparation, changes in patient roles, changes in the organization of patient care, and the changes in the health care delivery environment. Differences and similarities between the Netherlands and the United States provide an impetus for developing hypotheses on cross-national developments in patient education and ways for several elements to interact and affect acceptance of and implementation of the patient education function by health professions.