Caring for the underserved: using patient and physician focus groups to inform curriculum development

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Equity
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Training pediatric residents to care for underserved populations is a critical educational need.
• Existing curricula often focus on medical diagnoses, neglecting essential physician and patient behaviors.
• A gap exists in understanding the core competencies required for effectively serving vulnerable patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather and analyze information vital for creating a comprehensive curriculum on caring for underserved patients.
• To identify key knowledge and skills necessary for physicians working with diverse and underserved communities.
• To inform the development of targeted educational strategies for health professionals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized focus groups with physicians (pediatricians, family practitioners) and patients (Spanish-speaking and English-speaking).
• Explored themes related to physician knowledge and skills needed for caring for the underserved.
• Employed content analysis to systematically identify recurring themes across participant groups.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified include communication, respect, cultural competency, and navigating systemic challenges (e.g., insurance, transportation).
• Patients emphasized the importance of physicians listening and striving to understand their life circumstances.
• Physicians highlighted time constraints and the complexity of their roles as barriers to quality patient relationships.

Conclusions:

• Both physicians and underserved patients identified communication, cultural sensitivity, and systemic issues as crucial for effective care.
• Recommended that future curricula for caring for the underserved integrate these behavioral and systemic themes.
• Advocated for a shift in medical education to address the holistic needs of vulnerable patient populations.