Strategies for Advocacy

Catalog description

Many health care providers and health communication scholars have advocated a shift from traditional paternalistic medicine, which is often governed by the health-care provider, to patient-centered care, where providers work in concert with the patient, or health consumer, to deliver optimal care. To that end, interactions between providers and their patients are essential for helping facilitate an interpersonal climate of empathy, shared decision-making, mutual support, and trust. Positive patient-provider interactions often manifest themselves in the disclosure of information from patients. Conversely, the absence of positive interaction could contribute to adverse health outcomes should the patient not feel comfortable disclosing information, or should the provider fail to account for the complete health of the patient, including psychosocial needs. This course is designed to help you explore, understand, and appreciate the patient-provider relationship through an examination and analysis of selected health communication case studies and related materials. In your role as a patient or caregiver, this course is also designed to improve your communication skills with physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals to foster advocacy skills for self and others. If you fill the role of a caregiver or healthcare provider, this course will allow deeper understanding of patient psychosocial needs and the many ways patient-provider interactions can impact health outcomes.