{"title":"An exploration of the concept and practice of patient-centered care in medical education in Pakistan.","authors":"Afifa Tabassum, Usman Mahboob, Syeda Kauser Ali","doi":"10.12669/pjms.42.9.13838","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore current understanding of patient centered care (PCC), its teaching and assessment practices and perceived factors influencing PCC learning in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education within a traditional cultural context.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>An exploratory qualitative descriptive study was conducted from January to September 2024 in public sector hospitals in different provinces of Pakistan. Data was collected through focus group discussions with interns and residents of medicine, surgery and pediatrics selected through purposive sampling. Actor Network Theory informed data analysis and thematic analysis done using Braun and Clarke method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six focus groups were held with 33 participants in total. Four main themes and 14 subthemes emerged from analysis: Comprehending Patient-Centered Care, Teaching and Learning Practices, Influencing Factors, and Practice Implications. The central point highlighted was treating the patient as a whole, involving them in their care and giving consideration to personal values and preferences. Some PCC skills identified were technical expertise, communication skills, professionalism and understanding patient's culture. Current teaching practices were theoretical with limited practical training with insufficient assessment. Curriculum, Faculty, Service, Personal and Patient-related factors were recognized as influencing factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides insights into learners' perspectives and current teaching and assessment of patient-centered care within Pakistani context. The study highlights that to achieve the goal of trained workforce, changes in teaching and assessment practices, curriculum design and policy development at both institutional and national level are required while taking into account the sociocultural context. Addressing these factors could enhance preparation of future healthcare professionals to deliver holistic, patient-centered care.</p>","PeriodicalId":19958,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"42 9","pages":"2344-2351"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13624483/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.42.9.13838","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: To explore current understanding of patient centered care (PCC), its teaching and assessment practices and perceived factors influencing PCC learning in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education within a traditional cultural context.
Methodology: An exploratory qualitative descriptive study was conducted from January to September 2024 in public sector hospitals in different provinces of Pakistan. Data was collected through focus group discussions with interns and residents of medicine, surgery and pediatrics selected through purposive sampling. Actor Network Theory informed data analysis and thematic analysis done using Braun and Clarke method.
Results: Six focus groups were held with 33 participants in total. Four main themes and 14 subthemes emerged from analysis: Comprehending Patient-Centered Care, Teaching and Learning Practices, Influencing Factors, and Practice Implications. The central point highlighted was treating the patient as a whole, involving them in their care and giving consideration to personal values and preferences. Some PCC skills identified were technical expertise, communication skills, professionalism and understanding patient's culture. Current teaching practices were theoretical with limited practical training with insufficient assessment. Curriculum, Faculty, Service, Personal and Patient-related factors were recognized as influencing factors.
Conclusion: This study provides insights into learners' perspectives and current teaching and assessment of patient-centered care within Pakistani context. The study highlights that to achieve the goal of trained workforce, changes in teaching and assessment practices, curriculum design and policy development at both institutional and national level are required while taking into account the sociocultural context. Addressing these factors could enhance preparation of future healthcare professionals to deliver holistic, patient-centered care.
期刊介绍：
It is a peer reviewed medical journal published regularly since 1984. It was previously known as quarterly "SPECIALIST" till December 31st 1999. It publishes original research articles, review articles, current practices, short communications & case reports. It attracts manuscripts not only from within Pakistan but also from over fifty countries from abroad.
Copies of PJMS are sent to all the import medical libraries all over Pakistan and overseas particularly in South East Asia and Asia Pacific besides WHO EMRO Region countries. Eminent members of the medical profession at home and abroad regularly contribute their write-ups, manuscripts in our publications. We pursue an independent editorial policy, which allows an opportunity to the healthcare professionals to express their views without any fear or favour. That is why many opinion makers among the medical and pharmaceutical profession use this publication to communicate their viewpoint.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
