scholarly journals Assessing Family Medicine Residents’ Communication Skills in Oman Using the Communication Assessment Tool: A Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Family Medicine ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Communication Assessment ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Medicine Residents

Objective: Primary care physicians are the first means of access to further healthcare services and act as a doorkeeper for different specialties at the secondary and tertiary levels; thus, communication skills are one of the most vital skills to be taught to residents in the family medicine specialty. This study aimed to evaluate the communication skills of family medicine residents in Oman from the perspective of their patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at the Family and Community Medicine Clinic of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital as well as various Ministry of Health training health centers in Muscat, Oman. An Arabic version of the validated 14-item Communication Assessment Tool (CAT) was used to evaluate patients’ perceptions regarding the communication skills of family medicine residents at the end of their consultation. Data were collected between September 2020 and May 2021 from 602 patients who received care or interacted with 60 residents from the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) Family Medicine Residency Program at different residency levels. Results: The mean percentage of CAT items rated as excellent was 73.8%. The item “Treated me with respect” was most commonly rated as excellent (84.2%), whilst the item "Involved me in decisions as much as I wanted" was least frequently rated as excellent (62.0%). Various factors were found to significantly affect CAT rating, including residency level, type of clinic, number of times seeing the same resident, and the patient's education level. In contrast, other factors such as time of consultation, the gender of either the resident or the patient, and the nationality of the patient did not affect CAT rating. Conclusion: Some areas of weakness especially with the item "encouraged me to ask questions" and involved me in decisions as much as I wanted" identified in the communication skills of OMSB family medicine residents. These findings are comparable with those reported by similar studies worldwide.

scholarly journals Patients’ Perspectives about Lifestyle Behaviors and Health in the Context of Family Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2981
Author(s):  
Rosália Páscoa ◽  
Andreia Teixeira ◽  
Micaela Gregório ◽  
Rosa Carvalho ◽  
Carlos Martins
Keyword(s):  
Family Medicine ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Family

Lifestyle interventions are recognized as essential in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Previous studies have shown that Portuguese patients tend to give more importance to diagnostic and laboratory tests than to lifestyle measures, and seem unaware that behavioral risks are the main modifiable risk factors. The study aimed to analyze patients’ perspectives about lifestyle behaviors and health in the context of family medicine in Portugal. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Portugal (the mainland). A total of 900 Portuguese patients aged ≥20 years, representative of the population, were surveyed using face-to-face questionnaires. Participants were selected by the random route method. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate differences between the personal beliefs and the personal behavior self-assessment, as well as between the level of importance given to the family doctor to address health behaviors and the reported approach implemented by the family doctor, and its association with bio-demographic variables. The results indicate that the vast majority of this Portuguese cohort has informed beliefs regarding lifestyle behaviors, tends to overestimate their own behavior self-assessment, and strongly agrees that it is important that their family doctor asks/advises on these lifestyle behaviors, although the proportion of those who totally agree that their family doctor usually does this is significantly lower. Differences concerning bio-demographic variables were found. Future research directions should focus on the politics, economics, and policy aspects that may have an impact in this area. It will also be important to understand more broadly the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and clinical, physical, and sociodemographic variables.

Patients with schizophrenia assessing psychiatrists’ communication skills

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s827-s828
Author(s):  
A. Pestana Santos ◽  
V. Santos ◽  
I. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Family Type ◽  
Communication Styles ◽  
External Observer ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Communication Assessment ◽  
Competing Interest

The doctor-patient relationship constitutes the matrix of the entire medical practice. One way in which doctors develop a positive rapport with their patients is through appropriate communication. Evidence suggests that doctors do not communicate with their patients as they should. Important gaps are observed in doctors’ communication with patients with schizophrenia.AimExamine psychiatrists’ communication skills as assessed by their patients with schizophrenia and through external observation, considering patients’ socio-demographic and clinical variables and analyse the importance that aspects of communication have for patients.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study involved a sample of 30 patients and 11 doctors. An adapted and culturally validated version of the Communication Assessment Tool was used for data collection. Data were analysed in IBM SPSS Statistics®, version 24.ResultsMale patients constituted 86.7% of the sample and mean age was 46.7 ± 13.3. The overall mean percentage of items rated as excellent by patients was 57.4%. On the other hand, external observer percentage of excellent scores was much lower when compared with patients’ scores. Single, divorced or widower/widow patients, patients with higher educational level and patients with shorter number of years in medical treatment gave significantly higher scores to psychiatrists’ communication. Patients’ sex, age, occupation residence and family type did not yield statistically significant effects on patients’ ratings.ConclusionsCommunication is at the heart of psychiatrists’ daily practice. Many communication styles might be needed, depending on the nature of clinical encounters and patient expectations. Specific training is required to optimise psychiatrists’ communication skills on everyday practice.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Professionalism among Family Medicine Residents in Al Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (E) ◽  
pp. 946-951
Author(s):  
Sokinh Almaghaslah ◽  
Dalia Almaghaslah
Keyword(s):  
Family Medicine ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude ◽  
Family Medicine Residents

Abstract This was an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study conducted among the medical students at UB. Background: Professionalism is the core to sustaining trust between a healthcare provider and the community. Family medicine has an important role in health promotion, prevention and is the first line care which provides service to all age groups; this cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge and attitude among family medicine residents in Al Madinah region. Methods: A structured self-administered web-based questionnaire was adapted from CanMEDs use to assess professionalism. The questionnaire contained five domains: demographics, commitment to patients, commitment to society, commitment to the profession, and commitment to self. 119 out of 161 residents at family medicine training centres in Al Madinah responded by completing the questionnaire, giving 74% response rate. There was 49% male and 51% female participants; most (47%) graduated from Taibah University, followed by 18% from Umm Al-Qura University. Results: findings of commitment towards patients indicated that 75% of participants often or always exhibited appropriate professional behaviour and relationships in all aspects of practice. More than 80% of participants often or always demonstrated a commitment to excellence in all aspects of practice. More than half (58%) of participants often or always recognised and managed conflicts of interest. Findings of commitment toward society showed that more than half (59%) of participants often or always demonstrated accountability to patients, society and the profession by responding to societal expectations of physicians always or often. Findings of commitment revealed that 68% of participants often or always fulfilled and adhered to the professional and ethical codes, standards of practice, and laws governing practice. Findings of commitment to oneself showed that 60% of residents often or always exhibited self-awareness and managed influences on personal well-being and professional performance. About two-thirds (65%) often or always managed personal and professional demands for a sustainable practice.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitude and practice of evidence-based medicine among primary care practitioners in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e044372
Author(s):  
Mat Nawi Zanaridah ◽  
Mohd Noor Norhayati ◽  
Zakaria Rosnani
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Primary Care Practitioner ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners ◽  
Based Medicine

ObjectivesTo determine the level of knowledge and practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and the attitudes towards it and to identify the factors associated with its practice among primary care practitioners in Selangor, Malaysia.SettingThis cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected health clinics in Selangor. Data were collected from primary care physicians using self-administered questionnaires on knowledge, practice and attitudes regarding EBM.ParticipantsThe study included 225 respondents working in either government or private clinics. It excluded house officers and those working in public and private universities or who were retired from practice.ResultsA total of 32.9% had a high level of EBM knowledge, 12% had a positive attitude towards EBM and 0.4% had a good level of its practice. The factors significantly associated with EBM practice were ethnicity, attitude, length of work experience as a primary care practitioner and quick access to online reference applications on mobile phones.ConclusionsAlthough many physicians have suboptimal knowledge of EBM and low levels of practising it, majority of them have a neutral attitude towards EBM practice. Extensive experience as a primary care practitioner, quick access to online references on a mobile phone and good attitude towards EBM were associated with its practice.

scholarly journals Effect of family practice contract services on the quality of primary care in Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study using PCAT-AE

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e021317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Li ◽  
Chenwen Zhong ◽  
Jie Mei ◽  
Yuan Liang ◽  
Li Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Family Practice ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quality Of Primary Care ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
First Contact

ObjectiveCurrent healthcare reform in China has an overall goal of strengthening primary care and establishing a family practice system based on contract services. The objective of this study was to determine whether contracting a general practitioner (GP) could improve quality of primary care.DesignA cross-sectional study using two-stage sampling conducted from June to September 2014. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding between patients with and without contracted GP.SettingThree community health centres in Guangzhou, China.Participants698 patients aged 18–89 years.Main outcome measuresThe quality of primary care was measured using a validated Chinese version of primary care assessment tool (PCAT). Eight domains are included (first contact utilisation, accessibility, continuity, comprehensiveness, coordination, family-centredness, community orientation and cultural competence from patient’s perceptions).ResultsA total of 692 effective samples were included for data analysis. After PSM, 94 pairs of patients were matched between the patients with and without contracted GPs. The total PCAT score, continuity (3.12 vs 2.68, p<0.01), comprehensiveness (2.31 vs 2.04, p<0.01) and family-centredness (2.11 vs 1.79, p<0.01) were higher in patients who contracted GPs than those did not. However, the domains of first contact utilisation (2.74 vs 2.87, p=0.14) and coordination (1.76 vs 1.93, p<0.05) were lower among patients contracted with GPs than in those who did not.ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that patients who had a contracted GP tend to experience higher quality of primary care. Our study provided evidence for health policies aiming to promote the implementation of family practice contract services. Our results also highlight further emphases on the features of primary care, first contact services and coordination services in particular.

scholarly journals Sources of psychological distress among primary care physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave in Spain: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Cebrián-Cuenca ◽  
José Joaquín Mira ◽  
Elena Caride-Miana ◽  
Antonio Fernández-Jiménez ◽  
Domingo Orozco-Beltrán
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Protective Measures

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people worldwide. In Spain, the first wave was especially severe. Objectives: This study aimed to identify sources and levels of distress among Spanish primary care physicians (PCPs) during the first wave of the pandemic (April 2020). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey that included sociodemographic data, a description of working conditions related to distress [such as gaps in training in protective measures, cleaning, and hygiene procedures in work setting, unavailability of personal protective equipments (PPEs) and COVID-19 RT-PCR test, and lack of staff due to be infected] and a validated scale, the ‘Self-applied Acute Stress Scale’ (EASE). The survey was answered by a non-probability sampling of PCPs working in family healthcare centres from different regions of Spain. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed. Results: In all, out of 518 PCP participants, 123 (23.7%) obtained high psychological distress scores. Only half of them had received information about the appropriate use of PPE. PCP characteristics associated with higher levels of distress include female gender [1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54, 2.84]; lack of training in protective measures (1.96; 95% CI 0.94, 2.99); unavailable COVID-19 RT-PCR for health care workers after quarantine or COVID-19 treatment (−0.77 (−1.52, −0.02). Reinforcing disinfection of the work environment (P < 0.05), availability of PPEs (P < 0.05), and no healthcare professional was infected (P < 0.05) were related to the lowest distress score. Conclusions: A better understanding of the sources of distress among PCPs could prevent its effect on future outbreaks.

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