334 - What’s right with you? Why we need strength-based approaches with our patients and in our communities

The strength-based approach (SBA) in healthcare focuses on patients' inherent strengths and resources, rather than solely on their deficits or problems. This framework is built on equity, anti-racism, and decolonization by viewing patients as whole, complex individuals. Transitioning the paradigm of medicine towards SBA allows for patients to have more agency in making personally- and culturally-appropriate healthcare decisions. This study aimed to evaluate attitudes of healthcare professionals to SBA and assess the applicability of SBA to education, practice, and scholarship.

Design: This survey-based study assessed the impact of a SBA framework after didactic workshops to 118 healthcare professionals. Participants included students, trainees, and providers in physiatry, medicine, nursing, physician assistant programs, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Post-presentation surveys with either Likert scale (scale of 1-10) or open-ended responses were administered to evaluate participants' knowledge, confidence, and perception of SBA. Key thematic responses and statistical data from the survey were analyzed.

Results:

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  Participants’ knowledge of SBA increased from 4.8 to 7.2 from before to after the workshop. 
  



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  Participants' average confidence implementing SBA in patient care increased from 5.2 to 7.5 from before to after the workshop.
  



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  96% of respondents believed SBA would make them better medical providers, and 97% thought SBA would increase their job fulfillment.
  



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  Participants expressed a desire for more education on SBA and integration into healthcare training, with comments highlighting its potential to reduce hierarchical patient-provider relationships and improve healthcare infrastructure.