Health advocacy among resident physicians

Abstract

Background: Health advocacy is increasingly recognized as an integral part of a physician's professional role. This survey examines advocacy attitudes, competencies, and participation among psychiatry residents. Methods: Psychiatry residents from one program were surveyed using a 13-item, self-report questionnaire. Fisher's exact tests were used to examine the association between advocacy attitudes and competencies and past, current, and planned future participation in advocacy. Results: Thirty-two residents responded to the survey. Nineteen percent of respondents endorsed being able to describe what a health advocate does, 91% endorsed that advocacy extends beyond the needs of the individual patient, 44% endorsed that being an advocate is an important part of their professional identity, and 26% endorsed being confident in their ability to advocate. Endorsing advocacy as an important part of one's professional identity was associated with higher endorsement of future participation in advocacy (38% vs. 9%, p < 0.001). Discussion: Perceived competency in advocacy may lag behind positive attitudes towards advocacy, suggesting a knowledge gap among residents that warrants further curriculum development. Feeling that advocacy was an important part of one's professional identity was associated with future plans to participate in advocacy, suggesting that fostering positive attitudes to advocacy may help produce future advocates.

Exploring patients’ and physicians’ perspectives about competent health advocacy

“…To date, attempts at clarifying the Health Advocate role have largely centred around the perspectives of consultant physicians and trainees 13,16,19,21‐26 . Physicians report that they typically engage in two forms of advocacy: agency and activism 27 .…”