College health care providers’ student-centered care

Abstract

Patient care in the university setting is indelibly connected to college health care providers. College health care providers adapt to a specific set of circumstances unique to the university context in their patient care roles. The authors therefore sought to investigate the patient care phenomenon from college health care providers’ lived experiences. The patient care phenomenon was explored via in-depth interviews with 11 college health care providers at universities in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States. The phenomenological theoretical framework of the study revealed five themes of patient care during data analysis: Health education, behavioral health, student advocacy, relationship management, and reputation management. The authors designate the multi-dimensional nature of the patient care phenomenon "studentcentered care" and consider practical implications for other providers who treat young university-age patients.