Patient coaching in specialist consultations. Which patients are interested in a coach and what communication barriers do they perceive?

Alders, Irèn; Smits, Carolien; Visscher, Tommy L. S.; Heijmans, Monique; Rademakers, Jany; Brand, Paul; Dulmen, Sandra van

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2019.03.011

Cited by 8 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Three specific communication barriers distinguished patients with interest in a patient coach: feeling tense, little confidence in one's own understanding or thinking that certain subjects do not belong to a particular healthcare professional's field of expertise. These barriers did not relate to educational level, health literacy level or age [7]. Patients who feel tense have difficulties understanding and processing information [18,19].…”

Section: Skillsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Based on previous studies [3,7], a discussion within the research group and a pilot interview with a medical specialist, an interview topic list (Table 1) was developed.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If needed to facilitate discussion, examples of barriers were given from a 17 barriers list resulting from a previous study (e.g. 'feeling tense' and 'remembering the subject only afterwards') (Supplementary Appendix 1) [7].…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of them encounter communication barriers [3][4][5]. Patient coaching might support patients in overcoming these barriers [6] and is desired by one in six patients consulting a medical specialist, but it is scarcely investigated [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such interest appears to be related to specific communication barriers, such as feeling tense or being uncertain about one's own understanding and believing that a certain topic is not part of a healthcare provider's task. Other patient-related factors for interest in a patient coach are older age, limited health literacy skills and a lower level of perceived self-efficacy [7]. Supporting patients with a possible need for a patient coach requires their identification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patient coaching in secondary care: healthcare professionals’ views on target group, intervention and coach profile

Alders

Dulmen

Smits³

et al. 2021

International Journal for Quality in Health Care

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Background Not all patients are able to communicate effectively in consultations with medical specialists. Patient coaching has shown to be effective for enhancing communication. We aimed to get healthcare professionals’ views on target groups for patient coaching, on supportive elements in patient coaching and on the necessary qualifications and profile of a patient coach, to further knowledge on the concept of patient coaching as supportive intervention for patients in consultations with medical specialists. Methods We chose a qualitative research design and interviewed eighteen healthcare professionals: medical specialists, family physicians, community nurses and nurse specialists/physician assistants and analysed the verbatim transcripts using QUAGOL (Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven). After a short introduction of the global concept of patient coaching and presentation of patient’s perceived barriers, two interviewers structured the interview around three research questions: which patients could benefit from a patient coach, what should such a coach do, and who could act like such a coach? Results Participants describe patients who could benefit from patient coaching as generally vulnerable (e.g. older age, insufficiently accompanied, lower socioeconomic status, co-morbidity, cognitive problems), but also patients who are situationally vulnerable (e.g. elicited by bad news). Patient coaching should comprise emotional and instrumental support, aiming at reducing stress and improving processing of medical information. Patient coaching should start from the patient’s home and include preparing questions, navigating to and in the hospital, recording information during the consultation, checking understanding and recalling information. Patient coaches should have at least basic medical knowledge and a higher education. Conclusion Healthcare professionals believe patient coaching by a trained professional with medical knowledge could be beneficial to patients who are stressed when visiting a medical specialist. Future research should involve the views of patients on patient coaching, focus on investigating to what extent patient coaching is able to reduce stress and support a patient in processing medical information and the preferred patient coach’s profile.

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Section: Skillsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Based on previous studies [3,7], a discussion within the research group and a pilot interview with a medical specialist, an interview topic list (Table 1) was developed.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patient coaching in secondary care: healthcare professionals’ views on target group, intervention and coach profile

Alders

Dulmen

Smits³

et al. 2021

International Journal for Quality in Health Care

Self Cite

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Challenges to Exploring the Patient Perspective in Palliative Care Conversations: A Qualitative Study Among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Chronic Heart Failure Patients and Their Health Care Professionals

Olde Wolsink-van Harlingen,

Groen-van de Ven,

Vissers

et al. 2024

Palliative Medicine Reports

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to reveal the challenges faced in exploring the patient's perspective as experienced by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic heart failure and their health care professionals (HCPs), including the circumstances under which these challenges are experienced during palliative care conversations. Methods: This is a qualitative, explorative study in the Netherlands using purposive sampling to create diversity in demographic variables of both patients and HCPs. Semistructured interviews with 12 patients and 7 HCPs were carried out with the use of topic lists. All interviews were audiorecorded, verbatim transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: Patients find it challenging to express their wishes, preferences, and boundaries and say what is really preoccupying them, especially when they do not feel a good connection with their HCP. HCPs find it challenging to get to know the patient and discuss the patient's perspective particularly when patients are not proactive, open or realistic, or unable to understand or recall information. Conclusions: Patients and HCPs seem to share the same aim: patients want to be known and understood and HCPs want to know and understand the patient as a unique individual. At the same time, they seem unable to personalize their conversations. To move beyond this impasse patients and HCPs need to take steps and be empowered to do so.

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A survey of health information seeking by cancer patients indicates some problems over medical explanations and terminology

Akbolat

Amarat

Ünal

et al. 2021

Health Info Libraries J

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Background: Cancer patients may experience stress because of insufficient information about their illness, health condition, or treatment, but some may fear what the information reveals.Objective: This study aims to determine health information-seeking behaviour, the attitudes of cancer patients, the barriers they face in seeking health information and their sociodemographic and disease characteristics. Methods: A survey was conducted with 84 cancer patients in Turkey. Descriptive statistics were performed to determine the characteristics of information seeking and barriers found. Results: Cancer patients are likely to seek health information, often confident about finding resources easily. The main problems are as follows: (1) insufficient information from health care providers; (2) understanding medical terminology; and (3) lack of help from health care providers to explain information retrieved. Discussion: The information-seeking behaviour of cancer patients in this sample in Turkey resembles studies elsewhere, with (overall) evidence of monitoring behaviour (wanting to find out more about the disease, treatment and effects on lived experience). Conclusions:The cancer patients in this survey were generally willing and confident in their information seeking to find out more about the disease, treatment and effects on lifestyle. The main barriers were medical terminology, insufficient explanations and information from healthcare providers.

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Patient coaching in specialist consultations. Which patients are interested in a coach and what communication barriers do they perceive?

Cited by 8 publications

References 53 publications

Patient coaching in secondary care: healthcare professionals’ views on target group, intervention and coach profile

Patient coaching in secondary care: healthcare professionals’ views on target group, intervention and coach profile

Challenges to Exploring the Patient Perspective in Palliative Care Conversations: A Qualitative Study Among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Chronic Heart Failure Patients and Their Health Care Professionals

A survey of health information seeking by cancer patients indicates some problems over medical explanations and terminology

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