Health advocacy training in urology: a Canadian survey on
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.438Abstract
Introduction: Health advocacy is a well-defined core competency recognized
by medical education and regulatory bodies. Advocacy is stressed as a critical
component of a physician’s function within his or her community and
also of performance evaluation during residency training. We sought to assess
urology residents’ perceptions and attitudes toward health advocacy in residency
training and practice.
Methods: We administered an anonymous, cross-sectional, self-report questionnaire
to all final-year urology residents in Canadian training programs. The survey
was closed-ended and employed a 5-point Likert scale. It was designed
to assess familiarity with the concept of health advocacy and with its application
and importance to training and practice. We used descriptive and correlative
statistics to analyze the responses, such as the availability of formal
training and resident participation in activities involving health advocacy.
Results: There was a 93% response rate among the chief residents. Most residents
were well aware of the role of the health advocate in urology, and a majority
(68%) believed it is important in residency training and in the urologist’s role
in practice. This is in stark contrast to acknowledged participation and formal
training in health advocacy. A minority (7%–25%) agreed that formal training
or mentorship in health advocacy was available at their institution, and only
21%–39% felt that they had used its principles in the clinic or community. Only
4%–7% of residents surveyed were aware of or had participated in local urological
health advocacy groups.
Conclusion: Despite knowledge about and acceptance of the importance of
the health advocate role, there is a perceived lack of formal training and a dearth
of participation during urological residency training.
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