TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient perspectives regarding communication about prognosis and end-of-life issues
T2 - How can it be optimised?
AU - Walczak, Adam
AU - Butow, Phyllis N.
AU - Davidson, Patricia M.
AU - Bellemore, Frances A.
AU - Tattersall, Martin H.N.
AU - Clayton, Josephine M.
AU - Young, Jane
AU - Mazer, Benjamin
AU - Ladwig, Susan
AU - Epstein, Ronald M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was made possible with funding from The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia .
PY - 2013/3/1
Y1 - 2013/3/1
N2 - Objective: To explore patients' perspectives across two cultures (Australia and USA) regarding communication about prognosis and end-of-life care issues and to consider the ways in which these discussions can be optimised. Methods: Fifteen Australian and 11 US patients completed individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. A further 8 US patients participated in a focus group. Interviews and focus group recordings were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using thematic text analysis with an inductive, data-driven approach. Results: Global themes identified included readiness for and outcomes of discussions of prognosis and end-of-life issues. Contributing to readiness were sub themes including patients' adjustment to and acceptance of their condition (together with seven factors promoting this), doctor and patient communication skills, mutual understandings and therapeutic relationship elements. Outcomes included sub themes of achievement of control and ability to move on. A model of the relationships between these factors, emergent cross cultural differences, and how factors may help to optimise these discussions are presented. Conclusion: Identified optimising factors illustrate Australian and US patients' perspectives regarding how prognosis and end-of-life issues can be discussed with minimised negative impact. Practice implications: Recognition of factors promoting adjustment, acceptance and readiness and use of the communication skills and therapeutic relationship elements identified may assist in optimising discussions and help patients plan care, achieve more control of their situation and enjoy an optimal quality-of-life.
AB - Objective: To explore patients' perspectives across two cultures (Australia and USA) regarding communication about prognosis and end-of-life care issues and to consider the ways in which these discussions can be optimised. Methods: Fifteen Australian and 11 US patients completed individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. A further 8 US patients participated in a focus group. Interviews and focus group recordings were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using thematic text analysis with an inductive, data-driven approach. Results: Global themes identified included readiness for and outcomes of discussions of prognosis and end-of-life issues. Contributing to readiness were sub themes including patients' adjustment to and acceptance of their condition (together with seven factors promoting this), doctor and patient communication skills, mutual understandings and therapeutic relationship elements. Outcomes included sub themes of achievement of control and ability to move on. A model of the relationships between these factors, emergent cross cultural differences, and how factors may help to optimise these discussions are presented. Conclusion: Identified optimising factors illustrate Australian and US patients' perspectives regarding how prognosis and end-of-life issues can be discussed with minimised negative impact. Practice implications: Recognition of factors promoting adjustment, acceptance and readiness and use of the communication skills and therapeutic relationship elements identified may assist in optimising discussions and help patients plan care, achieve more control of their situation and enjoy an optimal quality-of-life.
KW - Communication
KW - End-of-life issues
KW - Prognosis
KW - Quality-of-life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873424552&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84873424552&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2011.08.009
DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2011.08.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 21920693
AN - SCOPUS:84873424552
SN - 0738-3991
VL - 90
SP - 307
EP - 314
JO - Patient Education and Counseling
JF - Patient Education and Counseling
IS - 3
ER -