title: Predicting Patient Advocacy Engagement: A Multiple Regression Analysis Using Data From Health Professionals in Acute-Care Hospitals.
abstract: Although literature documents the need for hospital social workers, nurses, and medical residents to engage in patient advocacy, little information exists about what predicts the extent they do so. This study aims to identify predictors of health professionals' patient advocacy engagement with respect to a broad range of patients' problems. A cross-sectional research design was employed with a sample of 94 social workers, 97 nurses, and 104 medical residents recruited from eight hospitals in Los Angeles. Bivariate correlations explored whether seven scales (Patient Advocacy Eagerness, Ethical Commitment, Skills, Tangible Support, Organizational Receptivity, Belief Other Professionals Engage, and Belief the Hospital Empowers Patients) were associated with patient advocacy engagement, measured by the validated Patient Advocacy Engagement Scale. Regression analysis examined whether these scales, when controlling for sociodemographic and setting variables, predicted patient advocacy engagement. While all seven predictor scales were significantly associated with patient advocacy engagement in correlational analyses, only Eagerness, Skills, and Belief the Hospital Empowers Patients predicted patient advocacy engagement in regression analyses. Additionally, younger professionals engaged in higher levels of patient advocacy than older professionals, and social workers engaged in greater patient advocacy than nurses. Limitations and the utility of these findings for acute-care hospitals are discussed.
authors: a School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA.
authors: Bruce S
authors: BS
authors: Jansson
authors: Adeline
authors: A
authors: Nyamathi
authors: Gretchen
authors: G
authors: Heidemann
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Duan
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015141:Los Angeles; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D028701:Patient Rights; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D000068217:Social Workers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: advocacy skills; ethical mandate; hospital social work; patient advocacy