Eman Hassan Elbanna Mohamed Ahmed
Alexandria University, Egypt
Abstract Title:
Assessing and Improving Patient-Centered Care at Alexandria's Family Health Centers: Impact of an Educational Intervention on Physician Communication and Patient ExperienceBiography:
Dr. Eman H. Elbanna is a Lecturer and Consultant of Public Health majoring in Health Management, Planning & Policy at the High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt, and a Clinical Nutrition Specialist. Her research focuses on patient-centered care, healthcare quality improvement, primary healthcare, chronic disease management, medical education, and health systems strengthening. She is an Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Fellow and has completed advanced training through Harvard Medical School, the American University of Beirut, and the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Elbanna is committed to advancing patient experience and implementing evidence-based innovations in primary healthcare.
Research Interests:
Introduction: Patient-centered care (PCC) is a cornerstone of high-quality healthcare, particularly in chronic disease management, where effective physician patient communication is essential. This study evaluated the impact of a targeted educational intervention on PCC and communication skills among family physicians managing chronic patients in family health centers in Alexandria, Egypt. Methods: A multi-center, mixed-methods, one-group pre-post intervention study was conducted in 12 family health centers and units. Fifty-two family physicians and 188 chronic patients participated. The intervention comprised virtual educational sessions incorporating lectures and interactive discussions on patient-centered communication. Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using validated instruments. Physicians completed the Patient-Centered Care Scale (PCC-27), Physician Satisfaction Scale, Time Scale, and Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT). Patients completed the Consultation Care Measure (CCM-21), Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS-21), and Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC-11). Additionally, 376 audio-recorded physician patient consultations (188 pre- and 188 post-intervention) were objectively evaluated using the Measure of Patient-Centered Communication (MPCC). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and effect size calculations. Results: The intervention significantly improved patient-centered communication and patient-reported experiences. Physicians demonstrated a significant improvement in perceived primary care quality measured by the PCAT (p=0.001, r=0.52), while other physician-reported measures showed no significant changes. Large effect sizes were observed for CCM-21 (r=0.84), MISS-21 (r=0.87), PACIC-11 (r=0.86), and MPCC (r=0.85) (all p=0.001). Observed consultations showed enhanced empathy, active listening, explanation clarity, and shared decision-making. Patients reported significantly greater satisfaction and improved perceptions of chronic illness care. Conclusion: A structured educational intervention effectively enhanced patient-centered communication and patient experience in primary care. Integrating PCC training into family medicine education may strengthen healthcare quality and support sustainable patient-centered practice.