Patient engagement in clinical communication: an exploratory study
Wendy Chaboyer PhD
Director
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAnne McMurray PhD
Emeritus Professor
Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAndrea Marshall PhD
Professor
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBrigid Gillespie PhD
Associate Professor
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Shelley Roberts PhD
Research Fellow
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Correspondence to:
Shelley Roberts, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAlison M. Hutchinson PhD
Professor
Centre for Nursing Research Deakin University-Monash Health Partnership, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMari Botti PhD
Professor
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Epworth Health Care: Centre for Clinical Nursing Research, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLauren McTier PhD
Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorHelen Rawson PhD
Research Fellow
Centre for Nursing Research Deakin University-Monash Health Partnership, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorTracey Bucknall PhD
Professor
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Deakin & Alfred Health Nursing Centre for Research, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorWendy Chaboyer PhD
Director
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAnne McMurray PhD
Emeritus Professor
Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAndrea Marshall PhD
Professor
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBrigid Gillespie PhD
Associate Professor
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Shelley Roberts PhD
Research Fellow
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Correspondence to:
Shelley Roberts, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAlison M. Hutchinson PhD
Professor
Centre for Nursing Research Deakin University-Monash Health Partnership, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMari Botti PhD
Professor
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Epworth Health Care: Centre for Clinical Nursing Research, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLauren McTier PhD
Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorHelen Rawson PhD
Research Fellow
Centre for Nursing Research Deakin University-Monash Health Partnership, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorTracey Bucknall PhD
Professor
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Deakin & Alfred Health Nursing Centre for Research, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Aim
Existing practice strategies for actively involving patients in care during hospitalisation are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore how healthcare professionals engaged patients in communication associated with care transitions.
Method
An instrumental, collective case study approach was used to generate empirical data about patient transitions in care. A purposive sample of key stakeholders representing (i) patients and their families; (ii) hospital discharge planning team members; and (iii) healthcare professionals was recruited in five Australian health services. Individual and group semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit detailed explanations of patient engagement in transition planning. Interviews lasted between 30 and 60 minutes and were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection and analysis were conducted simultaneously and continued until saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was undertaken.
Results
Five themes emerged as follows: (i) organisational commitment to patient engagement; (ii) the influence of hierarchical culture and professional norms on patient engagement; (iii) condoning individual healthcare professionals' orientations and actions; (iv) understanding and negotiating patient preferences; and (v) enacting information sharing and communication strategies. Most themes illustrated how patient engagement was enabled; however, barriers also existed.
Conclusion
Our findings show that strong organisational and professional commitment to patient-centred care throughout the organisation was a consistent feature of health services that actively engaged patients in clinical communication. Understanding patients' needs and preferences and having both formal and informal strategies to engage patients in clinical communication were important in how this involvement occurred.
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