The overall goal of the Social and Behavioral
Issues in Medicine course, which consists of the Family Centered Experience
and Longitudinal Case Studies, is to help to foster the development of
physicians who are skilled in, and committed to, the humanistic practice
of medicine. Essential elements of this practice include working collaboratively
with patients, their families and health care providers to alleviate
suffering and optimize health; possessing a critical awareness of one’s
own perspectives, ethics, and biases, as well as those of others and
society; and recognizing areas of societal need and injustice, including
health care disparities, and as a professional, acting to address those
needs.
Objectives
Family Centered Experience And Longitudinal
Case Studies
Mission Statement
The overall goal of the Family Centered Experience and
Longitudinal Case Studies courses is to help to foster the development
of physicians who are skilled in, and committed to, the humanistic practice
of medicine. Essential elements of this practice include working collaboratively
with patients, their families and health care providers to alleviate suffering
and optimize health; possessing a critical awareness of one’s own
perspectives, ethics, and biases, as well as those of others and society;
and recognizing areas of societal need and injustice, including health
care disparities, and as a professional, acting to address those needs.
Intended Learning Outcomes (Abbreviated)
I. Knowledge Objectives
By the end of the course, students are expected to demonstrate:
- An understanding of how basic science information relates to patients
and their illnesses, linking the theory with the practice of medicine.
- A basic understanding of the impact of illness on the patient’s
sense of identity and meaning systems, as well as his/her daily activities,
relationships with others and plans for the future.
- A basic understanding that illness has effects on both the patient
and the family, not only clinically, but also on psychological, emotional,
financial, and social levels as well.
- An appreciation that health beliefs and behaviors vary widely among
individuals, and are shaped by one’s history, i.e., personal, family,
cultural, and socioeconomic experiences.
- A basic understanding of the impact that a patient’s age and
stage in life may have on his/her experience of an illness or medical
condition.
- An appreciation of how a patient’s home and work environments
(social interactions, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, type of work,
support systems, etc.) affect their health and ability to care for him
or herself.
- A basic understanding of the influence that families and support
systems may have on a patient’s health behaviors and response to
illness.
- A basic understanding of the various resources that patients use
when seeking health care, and factors that represent obstacles in getting
access to health care.
- A basic understanding of various social resources that are available
to patients/families on personal (e.g., support systems), community (e.g.,
churches, mutual aid associations, etc.) and governmental levels (e.g.,
unemployment services, assistance for elderly family members, food stamps),
as well as the factors that determine patient options and choices.
- A basic understanding of the importance of continuity of care and
the ongoing physician-patient interactions in managing chronic health
problems for which no cure is available.
- An ability to identify factors that assist in, or prevent, the
development of an effective relationship between patients and their families,
and their physician(s). Elements in this relationship include:
- Trust
- Rapport
- Non-judgmental approaches
- Respect for self-determination
- Non-verbal communication
- Confidentiality
- Ability to discuss difficult or sensitive issues (e.g.,
sex, substance abuse)
- A basic understanding of the ways in which the culture of patients
affects their perceptions of, and responses to, health, illness, and
health care.
- A basic understanding of conventional Western and complementary/alternative
therapies for health maintenance and for treatment of diseases and medical
conditions, and how a patient’s beliefs influence his/her therapeutic
choices and decisions.
- An appreciation and understanding of how health care decisions
are made; i.e., What was the process? Was a particular decision arrived
at collaboratively between the patient and his/her physician? Were family
members involved?
- Students should have a basic understanding of how patients access
care and navigate around a variety of services in the context of receiving
health care (e.g., scheduling appointments, transportation, justifying
or making up for missed work or school for clinic appointments, specific
requirements of clinic visits, e.g., fasting/diet issues).
II. Skills objectives
By the end of the course, students would be expected to demonstrate:
Skills 1
Communication skills that are fundamental to an effective doctor/patient
relationship, including:
- Establishing rapport
- Empathic, non-judgmental communication
- Effective listening skills
- Effective non-verbal communication skills
- Responding effectively to a patient’s emotion and psychosocial
concerns
1. Professional Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics
An understanding and respect for the diversity of patient’s and family’s
personal and health belief systems and perspectives, family structures,
values, and how they affect health care decisions.
An ability to suspend personal judgments and biases and communicate effectively
and empathically in situations in which there may be conflicts between
the health and personal belief systems of the patient and family and their
own.
2. Professional Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics
Accountability and commitment to this experience, and to the patients and
families, in the context of concurrent curriculum responsibilities.
3. Professional Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics
Expression of compassion toward the patient and family, i.e., an understanding
of the patient with the illness rather than the disease in the patient.
4. Professional Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics
(Confidentiality)
Appropriate confidentiality related to patient and family information.
Skills 2
The basic ability to conduct a home visit with a patient, i.e., professional
conduct and facilitation of patient and family responses. |
