A Qualitative Study of Patients’ and Caregivers’ Perspectives on Educating Healthcare Providers

Abstract

My thesis examines patients’ and caregivers’ perspectives on educating healthcare providers(HCPs). Specifically, it examined two research questions: 1) What do patients think about their involvement in the education of HCPs? and 2) What roles do patients want to have in the education of HCPs? It is important for educational leaders and HCPs to understand answers to these questions, from patients’ own perspectives, to make effective changes in current and future health professions education and ultimately, the delivery of patient-centred care. I conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 patients and caregivers for this study. Through conventional content analysis, I identified five themes for what patients think about their involvement in the education of HCPs. Namely, patient involvement in the education of HCPs: (1) is challenging because of power-differentials between themselves and HCPs; (2) requires patient training; (3) needs to start early in HCPs’ education process; (4) can improve patient-HCP partnerships; and (5) requires compensation for patients. I also identified three roles that patients want to have in the education of HCPs. Specifically, they want to: (1) teach HCPs about patients’ expectations, experiences, and perspectives through case studies, storytelling, and research; (2) provide direct feedback to HCPs; and (3) advise on curricula development and admission boards for HCPs. My research adds to the limited research on patients’ and caregivers’ perspectives on their involvement in the education of HCPs, identifies barriers to patient involvement, and provides a foundation that HCPs and educational leaders can use to improve patients’ active involvement in the education of HCPs. Further, it highlights that patients’ voices are important to the education of HCPs. It also illuminates my own perspectives on patient involvement in the education of HCPs, which I share as part of my positionality as a researcher who conducted this study.