Physician Advocacy Online Learning Resource

Member Survey

Survey purpose

The RACP Policy and Advocacy team, and Continuous Learning team, are supporting expert working group members to develop an online learning resource for physician advocacy. The resource aims to demystify advocacy by providing College members with an introduction to physician advocacy, along with the knowledge, skills, tools and practices needed to effectively advocate for issues affecting patients, the community and wider population.

We want to find out about your understanding and experience with advocacy and how we can provide a resource that will support your existing knowledge and skills, and provide you with new and helpful tools, strategies and resources for physician advocacy. The RACP has developed an Advocacy Framework¹ which outlines the definition and approach to Advocacy within the College.

When you respond to this survey, you will help us to develop a tailored resource that will provide you with the tools and resources you need to advocate on issues affecting the health of patients, and the community and wider population.

This survey will take approximately 8-10 minutes to complete and there are no wrong answers. Thank you for your valuable contribution.

Definition of Advocacy

Advocacy literally means “speaking for, or on behalf of a person, group of people or an idea.” Physicians are uniquely positioned to function as public advocates for health. They have a high level of medical expertise, and they are poised to observe, identify and take action on the links between social factors and health.²

Physicians are well acquainted with their roles as advocates for the individual patient and most consider advocacy for an individual as an accepted component of ethical practice. However, public advocacy asks more of the physician. Advocacy, according to this broader definition asks the physician to work towards equity, which means addressing the root causes of the problems their patients and communities face.³

[1] Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Advocacy Framework, March 2017, https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/racp-advocacy-framework.pdf
[2] Perspective: Physician Advocacy: What Is It and How Do We Do It? Mark A. Earnest, MD, PhD, Shale L. Wong, MD, MSPH, and Steven G. Federico, MD Academic Medicine, Vol. 85, No. 1 / January 2010 http://centlib.medilam.ac.ir/documents/10129/34031/Physician+Advocacy.pdf
[3] Perspective: Physician Advocacy: What Is It and How Do We Do It? Mark A. Earnest, MD, PhD, Shale L. Wong, MD, MSPH, and Steven G. Federico, MD Academic Medicine, Vol. 85, No. 1 / January 2010 http://centlib.medilam.ac.ir/documents/10129/34031/Physician+Advocacy.pdf

Privacy Statement
Thank you for agreeing to complete this survey.
RACP can confirm that any personal information and data collected will not be disclosed to other third parties. Data collected through this survey will be used for the purposes of the research only and individual responses will be kept confidential.
If you have any questions about this survey please contact Krista Peters on + 61 2 9256 5419 or krista.peters@racp.edu.au

Demographics

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* 1. What is your country of practice?

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* 2. Please select your practice area from the dropdown list.

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* 3. Please select your RACP Membership Type.

General Information: What does advocacy mean to you?

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* 4. How would you rate your level understanding of advocacy?

Single answer

Novice: I know nothing about advocacy

Early learner: I have a basic understanding of advocacy

Proficient: I know quite a bit about advocacy

Expert: I have been part of number of advocacy initiatives

Other, please specify...

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* 5. How would you rate your confidence in terms of level of experience in advocacy?

Single answer

Not confident at all: no experience

Somewhat confident: I have a basic understanding

Confident: I have participated in advocacy activities or initiatives

Very confident: I have led a number of advocacy initiatives

Please outline in a few sentences your experience of advocacy.

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* 6. Thinking about the definition of advocacy above, what do you think a physician’s role in advocacy should be?

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* 7. From the below list of statements, mark each statement as true or false about the advocacy process?

	True	False	Unsure
Advocacy change is often a quick process	Advocacy change is often a quick process True	Advocacy change is often a quick process False	Advocacy change is often a quick process Unsure
Successful advocacy relies on strategic thinking and good preparation	Successful advocacy relies on strategic thinking and good preparation True	Successful advocacy relies on strategic thinking and good preparation False	Successful advocacy relies on strategic thinking and good preparation Unsure
Establishing yourself as a reputable and trusty source of expertise with stakeholders is crucial	Establishing yourself as a reputable and trusty source of expertise with stakeholders is crucial True	Establishing yourself as a reputable and trusty source of expertise with stakeholders is crucial False	Establishing yourself as a reputable and trusty source of expertise with stakeholders is crucial Unsure
Relationships are not important to effective advocacy and alliances involving common interests are not a high priority	Relationships are not important to effective advocacy and alliances involving common interests are not a high priority True	Relationships are not important to effective advocacy and alliances involving common interests are not a high priority False	Relationships are not important to effective advocacy and alliances involving common interests are not a high priority Unsure
Advocacy is premised on the understanding that only rarely does progress occur by the revelation of facts alone or by merely having a strong moral case	Advocacy is premised on the understanding that only rarely does progress occur by the revelation of facts alone or by merely having a strong moral case True	Advocacy is premised on the understanding that only rarely does progress occur by the revelation of facts alone or by merely having a strong moral case False	Advocacy is premised on the understanding that only rarely does progress occur by the revelation of facts alone or by merely having a strong moral case Unsure
It is important to have a clear message supported by robust evidence	It is important to have a clear message supported by robust evidence True	It is important to have a clear message supported by robust evidence False	It is important to have a clear message supported by robust evidence Unsure
Good advocacy involves your ability to make the most of trigger moments or events to get an issue on the agenda	Good advocacy involves your ability to make the most of trigger moments or events to get an issue on the agenda True	Good advocacy involves your ability to make the most of trigger moments or events to get an issue on the agenda False	Good advocacy involves your ability to make the most of trigger moments or events to get an issue on the agenda Unsure
Getting media attention on an issue is one part of the advocacy process and may not be used in all situations	Getting media attention on an issue is one part of the advocacy process and may not be used in all situations True	Getting media attention on an issue is one part of the advocacy process and may not be used in all situations False	Getting media attention on an issue is one part of the advocacy process and may not be used in all situations Unsure
Advocacy is a job for big organisations, an individual can’t make much of a difference	Advocacy is a job for big organisations, an individual can’t make much of a difference True	Advocacy is a job for big organisations, an individual can’t make much of a difference False	Advocacy is a job for big organisations, an individual can’t make much of a difference Unsure

Your Experience: Advocacy and You

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* 8. As a physician are you interested in advocating for a particular issue?

Single answer

Yes

Unsure

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* 9. What is the issue?

Please provide a brief overview...

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* 10. What could you do to advocate on this issue?

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* 11. What have you done already?

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* 12. What is preventing you from taking the next step?

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* 13. When it comes to advocacy, please rate your knowledge of the following areas

	Not confident at all	Somewhat confident	Confident	Very confident	Unsure
The Australian and/or New Zealand political system and parliamentary processes	The Australian and/or New Zealand political system and parliamentary processes Not confident at all	The Australian and/or New Zealand political system and parliamentary processes Somewhat confident	The Australian and/or New Zealand political system and parliamentary processes Confident	The Australian and/or New Zealand political system and parliamentary processes Very confident	The Australian and/or New Zealand political system and parliamentary processes Unsure
Setting an advocacy goal	Setting an advocacy goal Not confident at all	Setting an advocacy goal Somewhat confident	Setting an advocacy goal Confident	Setting an advocacy goal Very confident	Setting an advocacy goal Unsure
Knowing when it is appropriate to advocate on an issue	Knowing when it is appropriate to advocate on an issue Not confident at all	Knowing when it is appropriate to advocate on an issue Somewhat confident	Knowing when it is appropriate to advocate on an issue Confident	Knowing when it is appropriate to advocate on an issue Very confident	Knowing when it is appropriate to advocate on an issue Unsure
Developing an advocacy strategy	Developing an advocacy strategy Not confident at all	Developing an advocacy strategy Somewhat confident	Developing an advocacy strategy Confident	Developing an advocacy strategy Very confident	Developing an advocacy strategy Unsure
Framing the advocacy issue and creating a clear message	Framing the advocacy issue and creating a clear message Not confident at all	Framing the advocacy issue and creating a clear message Somewhat confident	Framing the advocacy issue and creating a clear message Confident	Framing the advocacy issue and creating a clear message Very confident	Framing the advocacy issue and creating a clear message Unsure
Identifying key advocacy stakeholders and their roles	Identifying key advocacy stakeholders and their roles Not confident at all	Identifying key advocacy stakeholders and their roles Somewhat confident	Identifying key advocacy stakeholders and their roles Confident	Identifying key advocacy stakeholders and their roles Very confident	Identifying key advocacy stakeholders and their roles Unsure
Knowledge of practical ways to develop partnerships and alliances	Knowledge of practical ways to develop partnerships and alliances Not confident at all	Knowledge of practical ways to develop partnerships and alliances Somewhat confident	Knowledge of practical ways to develop partnerships and alliances Confident	Knowledge of practical ways to develop partnerships and alliances Very confident	Knowledge of practical ways to develop partnerships and alliances Unsure
Evaluation of the risks involved in advocacy	Evaluation of the risks involved in advocacy Not confident at all	Evaluation of the risks involved in advocacy Somewhat confident	Evaluation of the risks involved in advocacy Confident	Evaluation of the risks involved in advocacy Very confident	Evaluation of the risks involved in advocacy Unsure
Engaging the media and writing a media release	Engaging the media and writing a media release Not confident at all	Engaging the media and writing a media release Somewhat confident	Engaging the media and writing a media release Confident	Engaging the media and writing a media release Very confident	Engaging the media and writing a media release Unsure
Evaluating advocacy outcomes	Evaluating advocacy outcomes Not confident at all	Evaluating advocacy outcomes Somewhat confident	Evaluating advocacy outcomes Confident	Evaluating advocacy outcomes Very confident	Evaluating advocacy outcomes Unsure

Other (please specify)

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* 14. What are the main barrier/s preventing you on becoming more involved advocacy?

Multiple choice

Lack of time

I don’t know where to begin

I need to first understand the political system better in Australia or New Zealand

I don’t feel like I have the knowledge to advocate on the big issues

I don’t have the resources (e.g., financial, time, staff and tools) to advocate

I feel my opinions should not influence clinical encounters

I don't want my colleagues to know my political leanings or preference

I want my patients to see me only as a doctor

I fear how people will react to me based on differing views and opinions

Other (please specify)

To Advocate: Becoming an Advocate

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* 15. What tools would assist you become a more effective advocate?

Multiple Choice

Checklist of steps for creating an effective advocacy strategy and plan

Guidance on setting advocacy goals

Case study examples of effective and ineffective advocacy projects with critical analysis

Guidance on framing issues and creating a clear message

Stakeholder identification, analysis and engagement advice

Analysis and engagement advice - media pitfalls and how to avoid them

Guidance on creating instructional videos and presentations

Applying evaluation strategies and tools to advocacy projects to measure outcomes

Other, please specify

Physician Advocacy Online Learning Resource

Member Survey

Question Title

* 1. What is your country of practice?

Question Title

* 2. Please select your practice area from the dropdown list.

Question Title

* 3. Please select your RACP Membership Type.

Question Title

* 4. How would you rate your level understanding of advocacy? Single answer

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* 5. How would you rate your confidence in terms of level of experience in advocacy?Single answer

Question Title

* 6. Thinking about the definition of advocacy above, what do you think a physician’s role in advocacy should be?

Question Title

* 7. From the below list of statements, mark each statement as true or false about the advocacy process?

Question Title

* 8. As a physician are you interested in advocating for a particular issue?Single answer

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* 9. What is the issue?Please provide a brief overview...

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* 10. What could you do to advocate on this issue?

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* 11. What have you done already?

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* 12. What is preventing you from taking the next step?

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* 13. When it comes to advocacy, please rate your knowledge of the following areas

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* 14. What are the main barrier/s preventing you on becoming more involved advocacy?Multiple choice

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* 15. What tools would assist you become a more effective advocate?Multiple Choice

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* 16. Any other comments to help inform the development of the advocacy online learning resource:

* 4. How would you rate your level understanding of advocacy?

Single answer

* 5. How would you rate your confidence in terms of level of experience in advocacy?

Single answer

* 8. As a physician are you interested in advocating for a particular issue?

Single answer

* 9. What is the issue?

Please provide a brief overview...

* 14. What are the main barrier/s preventing you on becoming more involved advocacy?

Multiple choice

* 15. What tools would assist you become a more effective advocate?

Multiple Choice