Patient-Centered Communication for a People-First Mindset: Adapting Trainings for Healthcare Contexts Grace ellen brannon, M.A. Texas A&M University Fostering healing relationships Exchanging information Responding to emotions Managing uncertainty Making decisions Enabling patient self-management Overview Communication Training Needs and Benefits Interactive ability awareness workshops have been developed for faculty/staff at Texas A&M University that promote positive, equitable, accepting attitudes towards people with disabilities on campus. The workshop covers many topics: background, legal requirements of disability accommodations, preconceived notions and biases, modifications, effective course design, and the principles of universal design for learning. While this workshop addresses many important issues, there is presently a need for context-specific training, in particular in improving communication. This project examines how modifying the current ability workshop for healthcare-specific contexts on a university campus using Epstein and Street's (2007; 2011) model of patient-centered care can create an environment of patient-centered communication with a people-first mindset. Medical students need communication training in: Providing patient-centered communication Increasing awareness of needs and inclusivity related to disabilities Breaking stigma-related barriers on disability Facilitating discussions on disability-related issues with the patient Involving the patient in healthcare decisions Understanding the patient’s individual context Facilitating discussions on disability-related issues with healthcare team Increasing healthcare practitioner communication competence early in the career benefits: Individual patients Patients’ family members (sometimes caretakers) Student (future physician) Healthcare team Competent healthcare practitioners can foster: Improved health outcomes Improved societal outcomes Improved communication outcomes More specifically: Positive interpersonal relationships with patients/family/healthcare team Disability self-management Sense of self-efficacy and control Feelings of empowerment Patient knowledge/understanding Better medical decisions for the patient/family Patient- Centered Communication Processes Areas of Interest Improving communication and helping (future) practitioners through trainings will help individuals with disabilities have and utilize their own voice, which is particularly important for individuals who may not currently feel that they have self-advocacy, any feelings of empowerment, or self-efficacy (Leyser et al., 2011; Rao, 2002). Information exchange involves practitioner-patient negotiation of a shared understanding of both medical and personal issues on a patient’s health condition. Enabling patient self-management focuses on assisting patients in problem-solving related to their health conditions, and empowers them to take some actions to improve their own health. It is through these examples that this project not only seeks to advance practices in two specific communities with a context-specific communication training, but also support and service individuals with disabilities in order to improve health outcomes and self-advocacy. References Dimoska, A., Butow, P. N., Lynch, J., Hovey, E., Agar, M., Beale, P., & Tattersall, M. H. (2012). Implementing patient question-prompt lists into routine cancer care. Patient Education & Counseling, 86(2), 252-258. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2011.04.020 Epstein, R.M., & Street, R.L., Jr. (2007). Patient-centered communication in cancer care: Promoting healing and reducing suffering. National Cancer Institute, NIH Publication No. 07-6225. Bethesda, MD. Leyser, Y., Greenberger, L., Sharoni, V., & Vogel, G. (2011). Students with disabilities in teacher education: changes in faculty attitudes toward accommodations over ten years. International Journal of Special Education, 26(1), 162e174. Rao, S. M. (2002). Students with disabilities in higher education: Faculty attitudes and willingness to provide accommodations (Doctoral dissertation, University of Arkansas, 2002). Street, R. L., Cox, V., Kallen, M. A., & Suarez-Almazor, M. E. (2012). Exploring communication pathways to better health: Clinician communication of expectations for acupuncture effectiveness. Patient Education & Counseling, 89(2), 245-251. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2012.06.032 Street, R. L., Makoul, G., Arora, N.K., Epstein, R.M. (2009). How does communication heal? Pathways linking clinician–patient communication to health outcomes. Patient Education Counseling, 74:295–301. Staal, J.B., Rainville, J., Fritz, J., van MW, Pransky, G. (2005). Physical exercise interventions to improve disability and return to work in low back pain: current insights and opportunities for improvement. J Occupational Rehabilitation,15:491–505.