Brief Report
Knowledge gaps and educational needs of Veterans Affairs healthcare providers regarding COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.01.025Get rights and content

Highlights

  • 1)

    Health care providers frequently spoke with Veterans regarding COVID-19 topics.

  • 2)

    Providers felt ongoing education was important, even for topics for which they had seemingly adequate knowledge.

  • 3)

    Providers may benefit from continual education regarding specific and actionable steps for patients during times of crisis.

  • 4)

    Effective risk communication training may help providers communicate with patients about topics for which there is insufficient knowledge.

Abstract

This study describes Veterans Affairs providers’ perceived knowledge gaps for addressing COVID-19 concerns among Veterans generally and specifically among Veterans with a history of military exposures. A needs assessment was conducted through an online survey of 2,818 medical and behavioral health care providers. Results highlight the importance of ongoing education, even in topics for which providers endorsed adequate knowledge (eg, handwashing). Results also accentuated the need for educating providers about effectively communicating with patients regarding concerning medical topics when scientific data is scarce. Implications are discussed.

Key words

Provider education
Risk communication
Military exposure
Epidemic preparedness
Patient-provider communicatio

Cited by (0)

Conflicts of interest: None to report.

View Abstract