Preferences to Patient-Centeredness in Pre-Service Speech and Hearing Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.
OBJECTIVE
Patient-centeredness is a critical approach to rehabilitation in allied health professions and is an imperative component of evidence-based practice. However, it is unknown if patient-centeredness is valued by students enrolled in allied health. This study was aimed at determining preferences to patient-centeredness in pre-service speech and hearing students in the field of speech and hearing sciences.


METHODS
Pre-service speech and hearing students (n=93) completed the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) and were grouped according to low, medium, or high exposure to curriculum content.


RESULTS
Across exposure levels, students exhibited high preference to patient centeredness with a mean PPOS score of 4.13 (standard deviation-0.5). A pairedsample t-test revealed a significant difference (p≤0.0001) between the caring and sharing subscales of the PPOS with lower mean scores on the caring subscale. No significant differences were noted across levels of exposure for sharing subscale, caring subscale, or PPOS full-scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest a need for curriculum enhancement focused on improved caring and empathy.
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.
Ashley L
AL
Dockens
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.
Monica L
ML
Bellon-Harn
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.; The Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.; Audiology India, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Vinaya
V
Manchaiah
Audiology; Education; Hearing healthcare; Patient-centered care; Patient-centeredness; Speech and hearing science; Speech language pathology