A preliminary study on applying holistic health care model on medical education behavioral intention: a theoretical perspective of planned behavior

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to apply the theory of planned behavior to identify the medical education behavioral intention of holistic healthcare on teachers and students who influence the medical and healthcare profession, as a revised future direction for hospitals to continue to implement holistic healthcare. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from April to May 2020. A questionnaire survey was conducted with the clinical teachers and students of the medical and healthcare profession in an individual Taiwan hospital as study subjects, based on judgmental sampling, and the study tool was a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 360 valid samples were collected, 105 clinical teachers (29.2%) and 255 students (70.8%). Demographic variables were significantly different between clinical teachers (mean = 3.91) and students (mean = 3.73) (p = 0.023). Post hoc analysis regarding work experience found that those with work experience < 2 years (mean = 3.94) had higher results than those with 6–10 years (mean = 3.61) (p = 0.019). The results of multiple regression analysis indicate that the factors affecting medical education behavioral intention are subjective norm (t = 3.571, p < 0.001) and perceived behavioral control (t = 11.870, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With respect to medical education behavioral intention, clinical teachers and students are affected by the subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. It is recommended that, in the curriculum of holistic medical education, designing holistic medical education teaching templates and check forms can encourage clinical teachers to re-examine their beliefs in teaching, learning, and knowledge. The results of this study allow the advocator to consider from a broader view making policies of and promoting the platform of holistic healthcare on medical education. It is recommended that future researchers conduct research, investigation, and analysis on other stakeholders.