Method

A variety of methods exist for conducting a job analysis. The most accepted practice is to use multiple sources of job information and then check for agreement among subject matter experts (in this case professional patient advocates). In preparation for the PACB Job Task Analysis, several sources of information about entry level practice were considered including the groundwork established by the founding board of PACB, an extensive literature review, a comprehensive inventory of patient advocate job descriptions and review of government databases (ONet and OPM). From these data sources, an inventory of job related tasks and knowledge statements was compiled for review by the initial work group comprised of the following PACB Board Members.

Job Task Analysis Work group

Subject Matter Experts

A job analysis consists of a thorough analysis of the job duties and knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics (KSAPCs) required for success in a certain position. Job experts or subject matter experts (SME) are qualified job incumbents who perform, train, or supervise persons employed in the target position. In general job experts chosen should collectively represent the demographics of the industry population (with respect to gender, age, race, years of experience, etc.).They should be experienced and active in the position they represent. Seasoned job experts will have a good understanding of the position, however, it is also beneficial to include relatively inexperienced job experts to integrate a “newcomer’s perspective” particularly in emerging professions like patient advocacy. In addition to demographic diversity, the pool of SMEs should also represent the various work settings and areas of expertise.

Survey development

Survey research is an efficient and effective way to identify the tasks and knowledge that are important in the field of patient advocacy. The tasks and knowledge statements included on the survey cover 6 task domains and 5 knowledge domains.

• Task Domain 1: Delivering patient advocacy services (35 Task Statements)
• Task Domain 2: Access Finance and Management of Healthcare Services (25 Task Statements)
• Task Domain 3: Coordinating Services (43 Task Statements)
• Task Domain 4: Adhering to Ethical, Legal and Practice Standards (10 Task Statements)
• Task Domain 5: Research Referral Treatment Options (6 Task Statements)
• Task Domain 6: Hospital or Facility Based Tasks (34 Task Statements)

Regarding the 6 Task Domains, participants are asked to rate each of the 153 job task statements using a five-point scale – (0 = of no importance to 4 = very important) and (0 = Never do this to 4 = I do this very often).

• Knowledge Domain 1: Healthcare Access Finance and Management (22 Knowledge Statements)
• Knowledge Domain 2: Psychosocial Concepts and Support Systems (20 Knowledge Statements)
• Knowledge Domain 3: Patient Advocacy Skills and Abilities (28 Knowledge Statements)
• Knowledge Domain 4: Ethical, Legal and Practice (9 Knowledge Statements)
• Knowledge Domain 5: Communication and Interpersonal Relationships (14 Knowledge Statements)

Regarding the 5 knowledge domains, participants are asked to rate each of the 93 knowledge areas using a five- point scale – (0 = of no importance to 4 = very important) and (0 = Never do this to 4 = I do this very often).

Survey Distribution

The survey distribution is done via anonymous link to the questionnaire and circulated to patient advocates through convenience sampling using snowball sampling techniques.  The survey is sent to known patient advocates using distribution lists from patient advocate organizations and through patient advocates who have known connections to other patient advocates.  All advocates who complete the survey are then asked to please share the questionnaire with other advocates they know who would be willing to complete the survey. Some individuals may receive the survey multiple times.  Each individual should only complete the survey once. Subsequent requests can simply be forwarded to other patient advocates or ignored.

Use of Survey Data

Once the survey data has been collected and compiled with the assistance of psychometricians and statisticians, a full report of the job task analysis will be written, published, and made available to the patient advocate community. The information collected will be used to construct a competency-based framework (for a brief discussion about competency-based framework, see FAQs) which will provide the most up-to-date information about the knowledge and skills that informs the content of the certification exam for the Board Certified Patient Advocate certification.

Additionally, the results of the job task analysis will be published in academic journals, on the PACB website, and in other relevant locations to help publicize the important work that patient advocates are doing on a regular basis and the evidence that supports that work. For additional information, see the FAQs on the PACB website.