title: A consumer informed workshop can improve knowledge and attitude to patient-centered care among hospital clinicians-in-training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patient and family involvement in the education and training of medical practitioners increases the likelihood that the care delivered will meet the needs of service users and carers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a consumer informed educational program on knowledge and attitude to patient-centered care among hospital clinical trainees.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 66 junior medical staff and 35 orthoptists in training were invited to participate in a controlled before-and-after trial at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from October to November, 2011. Thirty-eight participants were allocated to the intervention program (interactive workshop) and 63 to the control program (assigned reading). Questionnaires regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice, patient-practitioner orientation and communication were administered. Differences between groups and differences before and after the program were evaluated using the t-test or Chi-square test, as appropriate. Narrative data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using Grounded Theory qualitative analysis techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24 participants (63%) completed the intervention program and eight (13%) the control program. The intervention group felt more prepared to introduce themselves and their role (Chi-square = 11.19, P = 0.01) and to acknowledge patients' waiting time prior to consultation (Chi-square 8.52, P = 0.04) compared with the control group. For the intervention group, there was an improvement in mean score on the Communication Assessment Tool (mean change = 0.55, P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were minor improvements in self-perceived knowledge and attitude to patient-centered care and communication among hospital clinicians-in-training following a consumer informed education program. The majority of participants who received this program agreed it would influence how they conducted future consultations. Further work is required to determine if these improvements translate to sustainable changes in clinical practice and patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Australian College of Optometry, National Vision Research Institute, Carlton, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tellis
authors.affiliation: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: School of Social Science, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia; L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Jill E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Keeffe
keywords: Communication; consumer participation; eye and ear services; medical education; patient-centered care