Patient Misunderstanding of The Academic Hierarchy is Prevalent and Predictable

Kravetz, Amanda J.; Anderson, Cheryl; Shaw, Darcy H.; Basson, Marc D.; Gauvin, Jeffrey M.

doi:10.1016/j.jss.2010.07.052

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The survey questions aimed to quantify the percentage of our ED patients who could correctly answer knowledge-based questions on patient understanding of commonly used physician and student titles of their health-care team. Questions were created based on literature review of previous similar studies [ 1 – 6 ] and questions were then reviewed and edited by the physicians involved in the study for clarity and understanding. We collected demographic information, specifically age, gender, race/ethnicity, frequency of ED visits, and level of education.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior studies have demonstrated that patients believe that knowledge of a physician’s level of training as important [ 1 – 3 ]. However, studies show patient’s understanding of the medical education hierarchy is generally poor [ 4 – 6 ]. For example, one study found that respondents accurately identified the level of training of physicians and students in only 44.5% of surveys collected [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, studies show patient’s understanding of the medical education hierarchy is generally poor [ 4 – 6 ]. For example, one study found that respondents accurately identified the level of training of physicians and students in only 44.5% of surveys collected [ 6 ]. While in another, 33% of respondents did not know that attending physicians supervise the interns [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This lack of understanding could lead to several issues in the patient encounter. First, interactions with multiple providers could cause frustration and decreased satisfaction for patients who do not understand different levels of trainees evaluating them during their visit [ 6 ]. Furthermore, misunderstanding of roles could affect patient safety or the ability to consent to treatment if they are given information by a trainer believing it to be the attending physician.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Patient Perception of Providers: Do Patients Understand Who Their Doctor Is?

Wray

Feldman

Toohey

et al. 2019

Journal of Patient Experience

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Background: When being treated at a university-based hospital, a patient may encounter multiple levels of physicians, including trainees during a single emergency visit. Patients want to know the roles of their providers, but their understanding of the medical education hierarchy is poor. Objectives: Our study explored patient understanding of commonly used physician and trainee titles as well as the factors that contribute to patient understanding in our emergency department patient population. Additionally, we evaluated a new badge buddy system that identifies medical personnel impacts patient’s perceptions of providers. We examined how the increasing prevalence of medicine in media may change patient perceptions of the medical hierarchy. Methods: Patients pending discharge from the emergency room was assessed through a knowledge-based and opinion-based questionnaire. Questions quantified the percentage of patients who understood titles of their team. Results: Of 423 patients who completed the study, 88% (N = 365) felt it was very important to know the level of training of their doctor when being treated in the emergency department. Seventy-four percent (N = 303) believed they knew the role of their care providers but the mean knowledge score was 4.7 of 8, suggesting a poor understanding of the medical training hierarchy. Younger patients and those who felt that knowing the level of training of their doctor was very important noticed the badge buddies more frequently (80.9%, P = .020 and 81%, P < .001). Conclusions: Our study found that patients had a poor understanding of the medical training hierarchy, but felt that it is important to know the level of training of their staff. The implementation of a badge buddy served this purpose for most patients, but was less effective for older patients. Further research may be needed to evaluate if a different intervention, such as a detailed video or teach-back techniques explaining the levels of medical training, would be more effective for a larger population of patients.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Patient Perception of Providers: Do Patients Understand Who Their Doctor Is?

Wray

Feldman

Toohey

et al. 2019

Journal of Patient Experience

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In an article recently published in the Journal of Surgical Research, Kravetz et al [2] endeavored to gain insight into what patients understood about the titles surgeons have in academic hierarchies and how it corresponded to level of training. They designated six groups: Attending Physician, Chief Resident, Resident, Intern, Medical Student, and Pre-Medical Student.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%