Program

Physician Assistant M.S.

Year Approved

2019

First Advisor

Goetz , Cynthia

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States, with notable usage of supplements, deep breathing exercises, and chiropractic care. Despite this influx of CAM, nearly half of patients do not report their CAM use to their medical provider (Jou & Johnson, 2016). Disclosing these practices to a medical provider is pertinent to patient safety, as a number of potential drug interactions and side effects are associated with different CAM practices. Current literature illustrates specific provider attributes help facilitate an open dialogue with patients, or more specifically, a positive patient-provider relationship. This research study examines if a correlation exists between provider characteristics and patient disclosure of CAM use. Information was gathered via survey, and quantitative data were statistically analyzed using the Likert scale. Based on the results, all patients in the survey highly valued the following characteristics in their medical provider: a provider’s expanse of medical knowledge, proficient communication skills, being incorporated into the medical decision-making process, empathy, and amount of time spent during the visit. However, no statistically significant difference exists between disclosure and non-disclosure groups for any of the preceding provider attributes listed. Additionally, a provider’s relationship with their patient did not appear to increase the likelihood of patient disclosure regarding CAM use.

Degree Name

Masters of Science in Physician Assistant

Document Type

Masterʼs thesis

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