Healthcare providers can work to improve communication by focusing on the patient's individual needs when diagnosing them with a chronic illness, according to a study in the Annals of Family Medicine.
The researchers talked with 32 patients who were recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. They recorded and tracked these patients as they moved through the New Zealand healthcare system for approximately six months.
Data included video recordings of patient interactions with healthcare providers involved in their care.
Here are six findings from the study.
1. Although healthcare providers had comprehensive clinical knowledge about the patient diagnosis and a moderate understanding of key principles in patient-provider communication, providers tended to discuss the clinical aspects of the diagnosis too much. In this way, providers failed to place their knowledge into the individual patient's life circumstances.
2. The researchers encouraged providers to assume patients have a working knowledge about diabetes from relationships with others who have the same diagnosis. With this assumption, providers can begin educating patients on how to integrate long-term management into their individual routines.
3. The data indicated patients and providers communicated as if they had tight time constraints, but these conversations tended to focus on only a handful of subjects, which were unnecessary for patients to know at that time.
4. Providers in the study had limited knowledge about the roles of other members of the clinical team in the patient's care management. The lack of knowledge harmed the care coordination between providers, which is necessary for managing patients with chronic diseases, according to the researchers.
5. In particular, the lack of care coordination made conversations between patients and providers repetitive, the researchers added. To resolve this issue, the researchers said providers should communicate with each other about the different topics they cover with patients during their care.
6. The findings suggest providers need to place more emphasis individual patient needs, the study authors concluded. As a result, providers will be able to refine their patient education strategies to create more meaningful communication with patients.