How to Diagnose and Manage “Difficult” Patients - Development of a Workshop for Interprofessional Audience
IntroductionMore than 15% of patients who present to a primary care clinic are considered “difficult” yet interprofessional members of primary care clinics receive little training on how to diagnose and manage these patients.ObjectivesBecome familiar with successful method of workshop development on how to diagnose and manage “difficult” patients to interprofessional audience of six community health centers.AimsThe aim of the workshop was to enhance primary care providers’ capacity to diagnose and manage “difficult” patients as well as serve as a pilot program for a larger conference on managing “difficult” patients.MethodsA half-day workshop was designed to fill this perceived need of community health providers to learn how to diagnose and manage “difficult” patients. The workshop consisted of didactic presentation and case based small group learning.This workshop served as a pilot program for the development of larger conference for community providers on managing “difficult” patients.ResultsThe workshop was evaluated by participants. 100% of respondents agreed that the workshop was relevant to their work and 87.5% of respondents reported that the workshop will alter their clinical practice.ConclusionThe workshop has met participants’ perceived learning needs as well as served as a pilot program for a larger conference on managing difficult patients.