Healthcare providers' perceived learning needs and barriers to providing care for chronic multisymptom illness and environmental exposure concerns

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 284; p. 119757
• Main Authors: McAndrew, Lisa M., Khatib, Linda A., Sullivan, Nicole L., Winograd, Darren M., Kolar, Stephanie K., Santos, Susan L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Inc 01.11.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Exposure; Exposures; Functional somatic disorder; Functional somatic syndrome; Gulf war illness; Health care; Illnesses; Medical education; Medically unexplained symptoms; Needs assessment; Online survey; Patients; Persistent physical symptoms; Physician training; Provider training; Toxic exposure; Training; Veterans; Toxic exposure; Exposures; Veterans; Medically unexplained symptoms; Gulf war illness; Needs assessment; Persistent physical symptoms; Functional somatic disorder; Online survey; Functional somatic syndrome; Medical education; Provider training; Physician training
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119757

Patient provider encounters for chronic multisympom illness (CMI) and/or environmental exposures are difficult often resulting in Veterans and providers having high levels of dissatisfaction. Patients attribute these difficulties to providers lacking knowledge about these health concerns. It is not known whether providers perceive themselves as lacking expertise in CMI and environmental exposure concerns. This needs assessment used a descriptive online survey design. A total of 3632 VA healthcare providers across disciplines were surveyed. Healthcare providers reported speaking with Veterans about CMI and environmental exposures despite feeling they have minimal to no knowledge of these topics. At the same time, only half of the providers had taken an available training on CMI or environmental exposure within the last year. Healthcare providers recognize a knowledge gap regarding CMI and environmental exposures, despite this, there is low uptake of provider education on these topics. A better understanding of barriers to uptake of training on CMI and environmental exposures is needed to increase engagement with these important trainings. •Providers perceive a lack of knowledge of CMI and environmental exposures.•Knowledge in CMI was viewed as important and relevant to their practice.•At the same time, few providers utilize trainings focused on CMI and environmental exposure concerns.•Logistical barriers were identified as preventing educational uptake.