MedWorm: Patient Communication

Colon cancer treatment for older patients often less aggressive than recommended, study finds

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

New results from a major initiative on the quality of cancer care in the United States show that patients with a common type of colon cancer, especially older patients, often do not receive the aggressive treatment with chemotherapy that research shows is associated with better survival. Led by researchers from UCLA and the RAND Corp., a nonprofit research organization, the study is among the first to track how findings from specialty research trials are applied in diverse practices in the community, where a wider variety of patients are treated. The results will appear in the March 17 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, which is devoted to developments in cancer care. The study indicates that older patients, and to some extent youn...

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Patient communication (SMS) in ICU

Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:11:54 +0100

Haranath P. S. R. KIndian Journal of Critical Care Medicine 2009 13(4):224-225 (Source: Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine)

Good doctor–patient communication key to good asthma management

MedWire News - Respiratory — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:40:25 +0100

Changing an asthma patient’s inhaler device without their consent can damage the doctor–patient relationship and may even result in poorer asthma control, UK researchers warn. (Source: MedWire News - Respiratory)

New Tool Available For Health Care Companies To Assess Their Organizations' Health Literacy Programs

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0100

A new tool is now publicly available for health care companies to assess their organizations' approaches to ensuring that communication with patients promotes consumer engagement, and to advance their health literacy programs. Developed by Emory University researcher and highly respected health literacy expert Dr. Julie Gazmararian, the tool addresses the work of all departments and professionals in health plans that touch consumers via the written word, the spoken word, or the world-wide web... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New Tool Available For Health Care Companies To Assess Their Organizations' Health Literacy Programs

Public Health News From Medical News Today — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Ask the Expert: E-mail in Communication with Patients [CLINICAL SYNTHESIS]

FOCUS — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:07:03 +0100

(Source: FOCUS)

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Addressing patient beliefs and expectations in the consultation

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:46:38 +0100

In this article, we specifically focus on the identification and management of patient beliefs and expectations during consultations with health-care professionals (HCPs). In examination of the nature and purpose of communication during consultations, we evaluate the research relating to doctor–patient communication, present the Calgary–Cambridge framework and highlight the identification and management of the patient's beliefs and expectations as a key part of this process. Having identified what can go wrong, we identify the characteristics of effective consultations and consider strategies for improving communication. In recommending a clear and more focussed approach to the identification and management of patient beliefs and expectations, we consider not only the nature of the the...

Patients' experience of pain after cardiac surgery

Contemporary Nurse — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Contemporary Nurse 34(1): 48-54 Abstract Pain after Cardiac Surgery (CS) is the most common patient complaint. However the first 48 h after surgery, when patients' pain is the most severe, is generally spent in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It is almost impossible for patients to report their pain because of their inadequate level of consciousness in the ICU. Many factors alter verbal communication with patients, such as administration of sedative medications, mechanical ventilation, and patients' changed level of consciousness. This descriptive study was conducted for the purpose of describing the experience of pain in CS patients in the ICU and determining situations that affect their pain. This research was conducted with 300 adult patients at a Ministry of Health Hospital who stayed i...

American College Of Cardiology Embraces Interactive Technology For Patient Engagement

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

When patients hear the words "heart failure" they often remember little of the discussion that follows. Stress, emotions, health literacy and even the patient's condition itself can create a barrier for good communication between patients and their doctors. Studies show patients forget as much as 80% of their discussion with their doctor by the time they reach the parking garage. That's why the American College of Cardiology (ACC) is embracing interactive technology as a way to improve patient communication... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

The intersection of ethics and communication in prenatal imaging: challenges for the pediatric radiologist

Pediatric Radiology — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:47:52 +0100

Abstract Pediatric radiologists who practice prenatal imaging are often at the front lines of communication with pregnant patients and their partners. The communication process is particularly complex when a fetal abnormality is diagnosed. Regardless of whether the information is completely new and unexpected, or the patient is referred for tertiary imaging and counseling, few pediatric radiologists are trained specifically in the communication skills necessary to provide optimal care to the prospective parents. This paper reviews current literature regarding communication with patients about unexpected or difficult information, and illustrates key clinical and ethical features that make conversations with pregnant patients particularly challenging in the setting of fetal ...

American College of Cardiology embraces interactive technology for patient engagement

Healthcare IT News Press Releases — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:29:45 +0100

When patients hear the words “heart failure” they often remember little of the discussion that follows. Stress, emotions, health literacy and even the patient’s condition itself can create a barrier for good communication between patients and their doctors. Studies show patients forget as much as 80% of their discussion with their doctor by the time they reach the parking garage. That’s why the American College of Cardiology (ACC) is embracing interactive technology as a way to improve patient communication. (Source: Healthcare IT News Press Releases)

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Program shows no effect on patients' question-asking

Reuters: Health — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:21:45 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A program designed to boost doctor-patient communication and patients' compliance with treatment may not have the intended effects, a new study suggests. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Program Shows No Effect on Patients' Question-Asking

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:21:45 +0100

A program designed to boost doctor-patient communication and patients' compliance with treatment may not have the intended effects, a new study suggests.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Pages: Health Literacy, Talking With Your Doctor (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

[Reflection and Reaction] Radiotherapy-induced skin changes and quality of life

The Lancet Oncology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Quality of life is broadly recognised within oncology as an essential component of cancer care and has been studied extensively in patients with breast cancer. Yet, among the three pillars of breast cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy), research on radiotherapy-related quality of life has lagged behind. Specifically, the study of quality of life as it relates to normal tissue effects in patients with breast cancer is woefully understudied. The reasons for this relative lack of attention are unclear, but the results are worrying. Insufficient understanding of the effects of radiotherapy on quality of life can impair doctor–patient communication, inhibit therapeutic progress, and limit a patient's understanding of radiotherapy and its outcomes. Therefore, the report o...

Patient communication (SMS) in ICU

Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:55:25 +0100

Haranath P. S. R. KIndian Journal of Critical Care Medicine 2009 13(4):224-225 (Source: Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine)

Cancer and the Family: The Silent Words of Truth [ART OF ONCOLOGY]

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:01:03 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

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Decision-Making Role Preferences Among Patients with HIV: Associations with Patient and Provider Characteristics and Communication Behaviors

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:55:22 +0100

CONCLUSION Observed measures of patient and provider communication behavior were similar across all patient decision-making role preferences, indicating that it may be difficult for providers to determine these preferences based solely on communication behavior. Engaging patients in open discussion about decision-making preferences may be a more effective approach. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11606-010-1275-3Authors Rashmi Kumar, Johns Hopkins University 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 2-600 Baltimore MD 21205 USAP. Todd Korthuis, Oregon Health Science University Portland OR USASomnath Saha, Oregon Health Science University Portland OR USAGeetanjali Chander, Johns Hopkins University 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 2-600 Baltim...

Provider Communication and Patient Understanding of Life-Limiting Illness and Their Relationship to Patient Communication of Treatment Preferences

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Medical decision making in the context of serious illness ideally involves a patient who understands his or her condition and prognosis and can effectively formulate and communicate his or her care preferences. To understand the relationships among these care processes, we analyzed baseline interview data from veterans enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a palliative care intervention. Participants were 400 inpatient veterans admitted with a physician-estimated risk of one-year mortality more than 25%; 260 (65%) had cancer as the primary diagnosis. Patients who believed that they had a life-limiting illness (89% of sample) reported that their provider had communicated this to them more frequently than those who did not share that belief (78% vs. 22%, P (Source: Journal o...

NURSE–PATIENT COMMUNICATION WHILE PERFORMING HOME DIALYSIS: THE PATIENTS' PERCEPTIONS

Journal of Renal Care — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study aimed at describing patients' perception of their communication with nurses when performing home dialysis. Data were collected from interviews guided by the question: "What is communication like, between you and nurses, during home dialysis treatment?" Results show participants' perception of treatment during home peritoneal dialysis [Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)]; relationship with nurses and family and the effects of treatment on one's existence. Patients can be self-caring and they learn to value the autonomy in their own care. However, some are unable to assume the responsibility for self-care. It was discovered that the connotation of "inspection" that some participants attributed to the nurse's visits, led to an alienation from the education process in ...

'It don't make sense to worry too much': the experience of prostate cancer in African-Caribbean men in the UK

European Journal of Cancer Care — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

NANTON V. & DALE J. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care'It don't make sense to worry too much': the experience of prostate cancer in African-Caribbean men in the UK The incidence of prostate cancer among African-Caribbean men in the UK is three times that among men from the majority population. Little attention, however, has been given to the perceptions and experiences of treatment and care of men from these communities with prostate cancer. This qualitative study is the first such investigation, situating men's accounts within the context of their personal history and social environment. Using a community-based, snowball sampling method, 16 first generation African-Caribbean men living in Central England were recruited. Similarities and divergence in men's experience were identified t...

Improving clinician–patient communication in asthma: the HARP project

Allergy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Allergy)

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High-risk populations may not accept an HIV vaccine, study finds

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

HIV vaccines are considered the holy grail of AIDS research. The availability of a safe and effective vaccine could prevent millions of new HIV infections. Yet the simple availability of a vaccine is not enough to ensure that it would actually be widely accessible and taken by people at risk for HIV. Though each year sees 2.5 million new HIV cases worldwide — including 55,000 in the United States — questions about a vaccine's effectiveness and potential side effects, and fears that it might encourage risky behavior, could be stumbling blocks to widespread acceptance. To address these issues, UCLA and University of Toronto researchers undertook the LA VOICES study. LA VOICES used a unique cross-sectional analysis to determine the acceptability among vuln...

Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Singapore Cancer Patients.

Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Singapore cancer patients show high prevalence of CAM use, high expectations regarding its effectiveness and doctors' knowledge on CAM and many use it concurrently with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Since oncologists are generally unaware of CAM use in their patients, doctor-patient communication on CAM use needs to be improved. The association of CAM use and higher QOL scores in some subgroups deserves further exploration. PMID: 20237735 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore)

Editorial comment on "How do interventions design to improve provider-patient communication work? Illustrative applications of a framework for communication" and "The State of the Science: Informing choices across the cancer journey with public health mechanisms and decision processes".

Acta Oncologica — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:04:03 +0100

Authors: Ohlén J, Lampic C, Koinberg I, Tishelman C PMID: 20100152 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Acta Oncologica)

How do interventions designed to improve provider-patient communication work? Illustrative applications of a framework for communication.

Acta Oncologica — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:04:03 +0100

Authors: Brundage MD, Feldman-Stewart D, Tishelman C In this broad overview for the Conference: "State of the Science in Cancer Care", we review a conceptual framework of physician-patient communication and use the framework to inform the application of theory regarding communication and patient preferences in clinical practice. Using a selection of research, we illustrate how problematic issues in communication can be represented by the framework. We further illustrate how interventions designed to improve communication or to elicit patients' preferences in a medical encounter may have their desired effect, or may be optimally evaluated. PMID: 20100151 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Acta Oncologica)

Focus on communication: increasing the opportunity for successful staff–patient interactions

International Journal of Older People Nursing — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. The Patient-Centred Communication Intervention is feasible and has demonstrated potential for a larger-scale study.Relevance to clinical practice. Providing tailored approaches to communication-enhancement education may be necessary for changes in practice to occur. (Source: International Journal of Older People Nursing)

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Dermatologists, Medical Oncologists are the Top Physician Specialist Groups Communicating with Patients Online

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:01:05 +0100

Manhattan Research’s latest report discusses the outlook on health information technology (http://www.manhattanresearch.com/products/Research_Modules/Physician/physicians-2012-health-information-technology.aspx) for physicians, including current and future adoption of electronic medical records, e-prescribing, and online patient communication (PRWeb Jan 26, 2010) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/01/prweb3520384.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

Breast Cancer Physicians Have Limited Access to Trained Interpreters

Health Behavior News Service — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:50:58 +0100

11/11/2009, Health Services Research, In a new survey of physicians who treat breast cancer patients, only one-third said they had good access to trained medical interpreters or telephone language-interpretation systems when they needed it. Poor access to interpreters can compromise physician-patient communication that is critically important in cancer care. (Source: Health Behavior News Service)

Plaintiff's attorneys share perspectives on patient communication

Journal of Healthcare Risk Management — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article reports that malpractice attorneys representing plaintiffs accept a small percentage of the clients who request legal representation for medical liability claims. Of those cases they do not accept, these attorneys report that a significant motivator for patients seeking legal counsel is poor clinician-patient communication. They cite poor listening skills; delegation of critical consent communication; failure to share timely information with colleagues and nursing personnel; failure to have meaningful, empathetic conversations when adverse outcomes occur; and defensive behavior when patients seek to learn more by questioning diagnoses and treatment options. (Source: Journal of Healthcare Risk Management)

Use of mail-order pharmacies use could improve patients' medication adherence

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0100

Buying medicine by mail may encourage patients to stick to their doctor-prescribed medication regimen, new research suggests. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from UCLA and Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., found that patients with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol who ordered their medications by mail were more likely to take them as prescribed by their physicians than patients who obtained medications from a local pharmacy. The study findings appear in the online edition of the American Journal of Managed Care. "The field of medication adherence research typically focuses on patient factors for poor adherence, leading to a 'blame the patient' approach for non-adherence," said Dr. O. Kenrik Duru, the study's lead re...

Use of mail-order pharmacies could improve patients' medication adherence

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0100

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Participant Perception of an Integrated Program for Substance Abuse in Pregnancy

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To assess participant perception of an integrated model of care for substance abuse in pregnancy. Focus groups were employed for this qualitative study. Two Family Medicine Units, 1 in Toronto and 1 in Montreal, where integrated care for licit and illicit substance abuse in pregnancy is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and social workers. Women who had received addiction and prenatal care at 1 of the 2 sites. Women were asked to discuss their experiences of care in focus groups. Five central themes emerged: judgment, physician[ndash]patient communication, team communication, support groups, and self-responsibility. Women felt more comfortable with provider teams that shared a consistent nonjudgmental attitude. (Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neona...

Researchers Crack Part Of The Neuronal Code

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Creating prostheses for paralysed patients, establishing communication with patients who have lost the capacity for normal communication - the hopes for modern brain research are high. To develop such brain-machine interfaces it is necessary to write a "dictionary" which translates the activity of the brain into desires, ideas or movements... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Researchers Crack Part Of The Neuronal Code

Biology / Biochemistry News From Medical News Today — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Emotions and features of temperament in patients with Addison's disease.

Endokrynologia Polska — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The temperamental characteristics and personal traits of patients with Addison's disease seem not to be useful in stressful events, and psychological support can be helpful in the effective therapy of these patients. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 90-92). PMID: 20205110 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Endokrynologia Polska)

So Many Materials, So Little Time: A Checklist to Select Printed Patient Education Materials for Clinical Practice

Journal of midwifery & women's health — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:01:00 +0100

Clinicians value printed patient education materials for use in their busy practices because of their accessibility, convenience, and low cost. These materials can help broach important and sensitive topics, reinforce medical information verbally discussed with the patient in a cost-effective manner, and save time typically required to explain clinical topics. If a material can provide necessary information succinctly, then clinician–patient communication can be focused on other unmet patient education needs. (Source: Journal of midwifery & women's health)

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Doctor-patient communication with people with intellectual disability - a qualitative study

BMC Family Practice — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: People with ID hold strong views on communication with their doctors during consultations. GPs, people with ID and their support workers can further fine-tune their communication skills. (Source: BMC Family Practice)

[In Context] Profile: Louis Caplan: bedside neurologist

Lancet Neurology — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The medical curriculum in universities should have a greater emphasis on patient communication, thinks Louis Caplan, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief of the Stroke Service at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. Back in the days of Caplan's neurology training, diagnoses were generally made at the bedside. Although this was mostly out of necessity, because modern tests and technologies were not available, Caplan insists on the value of such patient interaction. (Source: Lancet Neurology)

ASH: Gaps Frequent when Doctors Talk to Cancer Patients (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:13:22 +0100

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- Physicians frequently failed to provide full and accurate information in videotaped discussions with new cancer patients, despite the increasing attention given to doctor-patient communication issues, a researcher reported here. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

ACCISS study rationale and design: activating collaborative cancer information service support for cervical cancer screening

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

DiscussionThe study examines the effectiveness of a feasible, sustainable, and culturally sensitive strategy to increase awareness and use of the Cancer Information Service among an underserved population. The goal of linking a public service (the Cancer Information Service) with real-life settings of practice (the clinics), and considering input from patients, providers, and Cancer Information Service staff, is to ensure that the intervention, if proven effective, can be incorporated into existing care systems and sustained. The approach to study design and planning is aimed at bridging the gap between research and practice/service.Trial Registration: NCT00873288 (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Patterns of communication through interpreters

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:42:30 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an interpreter increases the difficulty of achieving good physician-patient communication. Physicians and interpreters should be trained in the process of communication and interpretation, to minimize conversational loss and maximize the information and relational exchange with interpreted patients. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlesDOI 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00451.xAuthors Cesar Aranguri, King Drew Medical Center 12021 South Wilmington Ave. Room 4 N3 90059 Los Angeles CABrad Davidson, MBS/Vox (a CommonHealth Company) Parsippany NJ USARobert Ramirez, Pfizer, Inc. New York NY USA Journal Journal of General Internal MedicineOnline ISSN 1525-1497Print ISSN 0884-8734 Journal Volume Volume 21 Journal Issue Volume 21, N...

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How do providers assess antihypertensive medication adherence in medical encounters?

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:42:22 +0100

CONCLUSION: Providers often do not ask about medication-taking behavior, and may not use the most effective communication strategies when they do. Focusing on the ways in which providers ask about patients’ adherence to medications may improve BP control. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlesDOI 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00397.xAuthors Barbara G. Bokhour, ENRM Veterans Hospital (152) Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research 200 Springs Road 01730 Bedford MADan R. Berlowitz, ENRM Veterans Hospital (152) Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research 200 Springs Road 01730 Bedford MAJudith A. Long, Philadelphia VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion Philadelphia PA USANancy R. Kressin, ENRM Veterans Hospital (152) Center for...

Plan Guides Physicians to Meet Patient Needs: Specially trained nurses work with patients and physicians for best care and transitions.

Caring for the Ages — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Susan Birk is a freelance writer in Chicago. CHICAGO — A primary care delivery model for older patients with multiple chronic illnesses increased physician understanding of the patients' clinical conditions and improved communication with patients and families, a randomized trial at eight practices showed. (Source: Caring for the Ages)

Exploring Emergency Physician–Hospitalist Handoff Interactions: Development of the Handoff Communication Assessment

Annals of Emergency Medicine — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: We were able to develop and use the Handoff Communication Assessment to analyze content and structure of handoff communication between emergency physicians and hospitalists at a single center. In this preliminary application of the tool, we found that emergency physician–to-hospitalist handoffs primarily consist of information giving and are not geared toward question-and-answer events. This critical exchange may benefit from ongoing analysis and reformulation. (Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine)

Dirty Blood

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:04:33 +0100

This case raises several issues on patient self-care and physician-patient communication in the context of end-stage renal disease. Three commentaries offer insight into these issues. The Hastings Center Report (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Tubal Reversal Message Board: An Innovative Forum For Patient Communication

Tubal Ligation Reversal News — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The message board of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is an interactive communication tool for current and prospective patients and allows for instant communication with other women considering tubal reversal surgery. New conversations are initiated continuously with questions, comments, and expressions of feelings among members. Message board communications occur 24 hours a day involving women from across oceans and international boundaries. The site is visited daily by reversal staff who answer questions and assist the needs of women considering reverse ligation tubal surgery and pregnancy after ligation reversal. After posting on the message board of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for the first time, one of our patients received the following response from a staff member: "Welcome t...

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Being open

Royal College of Nursing - UK- National News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:01:27 +0100

The National Patient Safety Agency has published guidelines for NHS organisations on Being open which describe the importance of open and effective communication with patients. (Source: Royal College of Nursing - UK- National News)

Patient Satisfaction with Physician—Patient Communication During Telemedicine

Telemedicine and e-Health — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:56:55 +0100

Telemedicine and e-Health Nov 2009, Vol. 15, No. 9: 830-839. (Source: Telemedicine and e-Health)

Patient Satisfaction with Physician–Patient Communication During Telemedicine

Telemedicine and e-Health — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:56:55 +0100

Telemedicine and e-Health Nov 2009, Vol. 15, No. 9: 830-839. (Source: Telemedicine and e-Health)

Breast Cancer Physicians Have Limited Access To Trained Interpreters

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0100

In a new survey of physicians who treat breast cancer patients, only one-third said they had good access to trained medical interpreters or telephone language-interpretation systems when they needed it. Poor access to interpreters can compromise physician-patient communication that is critically important in cancer care. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Breast Cancer Physicians Have Limited Access To Trained Interpreters

Breast Cancer News From Medical News Today — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0100

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AMA launches flu website for physicians, patients

Modern Medicine Medical Economics — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The American Medical Association has launched AMAfluhelp.org to improve physician-patient communication and the coordination of care. (Source: Modern Medicine Medical Economics)

Room for improvement: nurses' and physicians' views of a post-operative pain management program

Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The practice of post-operative pain therapy continues to be a problem. We conducted a survey among nurses and physicians about their views of an established post-operative pain management program. A questionnaire was sent to all nurses and physicians of nine surgical wards (general, trauma, cardio-thoracic and oromaxillofacial surgery and gynecology). Questions were developed from qualitative interviews with staff. Patient data were derived from a post-operative pain registry. Seventy-eight physicians and nurses answered; the overall response rate was 23%. Post-operative pain therapy had high personal priority on an 11-point numeric rating scale (mean 9.08±1.27 standard deviation), but the success of pain management on the ward was rated as 7.32±1.37. Staff rating of success tended to co...

AMA launches flu website for physicians, patients

Modern Medicine — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The American Medical Association has launched AMAfluhelp.org to improve physician-patient communication and the coordination of care. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Oncologist patient-centered communication with patients with advanced cancer: Exploring whether race or socioeconomic status matter.

Palliative Medicine — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Pollak K, Alexander SC, Grambow SC, Tulsky JA PMID: 19910397 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Palliative Medicine)

Medical schools revise curricula to adapt to changing world

Wash Post Health — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:04:02 +0100

When Aaron Laviana started medical school at Georgetown University in 2007, he dissected a cadaver in his first week, in anatomy class. Today, classes such as "Physician-Patient Communication" and "Social and Cultural Issues in Health Care" come first. Dissection doesn't begin until month four at... (Source: Wash Post Health)

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Boost communication with patients to cut antibiotic scrips

HealthcareRepublic Independent Nurse News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:15:00 +0100

Improved patient communication is needed to cut antibiotic prescribing in primary care, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has said. (Source: HealthcareRepublic Independent Nurse News)

From Conflict to Consensus: Individual Gifts, Shared Goals (Nathan Regier Ph.D.)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This seminar introduces the Process Communication Model, a contemporary model for team alignment, patient communication, and conflict resolution. The PCM outlines six personality types, each with specific and predictable strengths, language style, motivational needs, and negative attention behaviors. The essence of Process Communication is, "it's not what you say, but how you say it that makes all the difference". Participants will be shown the implications for aligning teams around a common goal, leveraging diverse approaches and perspectives towards unified results-oriented behaviors. Take-home tools will include The Assessing Matrix, a rubric for assessing different personality types, along with suggestions for engaging, motivating, and resolving conflict with each one. Participants wil...

NCI Communication Roundtable Seminar: Personalized medicine for the mind - The role of tailored communication

Videocast - All Events — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:01:00 +0100

Personalized medicine has traditionally focused on tailoring interventions to biological characteristics, but psychological, social and cognitive characteristics play an important role in health behavior and health status. At this seminar, researchers from the NCI-funded University of Michigan Center for Communications Research will present findings, ready-to-use tools, and practical, evidence-based guidelines to address numeracy skills in designing risk communications, elicit patient preferences for cancer screening and treatment, measure and tailor to patient communication styles, and use social media to deliver tailored behavior change interventions. Speakers: Ken Resnicow Larry An Ed Saunders Sarah Hawley Angie Fagerlin, University of Michigan Center for Communications Research Air ...

Factors that influence decisions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation: the views of doctors and medical students

Postgraduate Medical Journal — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:01:51 +0100

Conclusions: Doctors would benefit from greater support for their decision making in relation to resuscitation to reduce variability in clinical practice and to promote appropriate patient care. Identification of factors that influence doctors’ individual beliefs, attitudes and values towards resuscitation and improvement in the quality of patient communication may help to guide policy in this area. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)

Compliance and concordance during domiciliary medication review involving pharmacists and older people

Sociology of Health and Illness — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Medication review is an advanced service registered pharmacists can now offer patients in the UK. This in-depth study of pharmacist-older patient communication during domiciliary medication review encounters examines how the interactions are constructed by participants and the influence of the compliance paradigm on the interaction. Twenty-nine observed, taped and transcribed consultations were analysed using discourse analysis. Ethnographic-style interviews in the field with pharmacists, follow-up interviews with patients and feedback workshops with pharmacists allowed interpretations to be tested and strengthened. The findings presented here use discourse analysis to look at the task-driven nature of the medication review encounters. The analysis explores the interactional format of thre...

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Program Aids CVD Communication

Internal Medicine News — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON — Primary care physicians who have struggled to get a cardiovascular disease patient to adhere to a drug regimen may find practical advice in an online educational program aimed at improving physician/patient communication. (Source: Internal Medicine News)

Health care assistants in primary care depression management: role perception, burdening factors, and disease conception.

Annals of Family Medicine — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: HCAs were willing to extend their professional responsibilities from administrative work to more patient-centred work. Even if HCAs perform only monitoring tasks within the case management concept, the resulting workload is a limiting factor. PMID: 19901310 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Family Medicine)

How to Get Patients to Toe the Therapeutic Line

Rheumatology News — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON — Physicians who have ever struggled to get a cardiovascular disease patient to adhere to a drug regimen may find a wealth of practical advice in an online educational program aimed at improving physician/patient communication. (Source: Rheumatology News)

Adopting the prescribing role in practice: exploring nurses' views in a specialist children's hospital.

Paediatric Nursing — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Children's nurses' capacity to prescribe medicines contributes to healthcare policy. Further research is recommended to substantiate these findings. PMID: 19947105 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Paediatric Nursing)

Medicolegal issues in perioperative medicine: Lessons from real cases

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:16:38 +0100

Medical malpractice lawsuits are commonly brought against surgeons, anesthesiologists, and internists involved in perioperative care. They can be enormously expensive as well as damaging to a doctor’s career. While physicians cannot eliminate the risk of lawsuits, they can help protect themselves by providing competent and compassionate care, practicing good communication with patients (and their families when possible), and documenting patient communications and justifications for any medical decisions that could be challenged. (Source: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine)

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The role of physician–patient communication in promoting patient–participatory decision making

Health Expectations — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion The quality of the process of involving patients in DM depends mainly on the professional's communicative effort to achieve understanding and rapport rather than on an extensive discussion of possibilities or their prioritization. (Source: Health Expectations)

Use of Interpreters by Physicians Treating Limited English Proficient Women with Breast Cancer: Results from the Provider Survey of the Los Angeles Women's Health Study

Health Services Research — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Little is known about how cancer physicians communicate with limited English proficient (LEP) patients. We studied physician-reported use and availability of interpreters. A 2004 survey was fielded among physicians identified by a population-based sample of breast cancer patients. Three hundred and forty-eight physicians completed mailed surveys (response rate: 77 percent) regarding the structure and organization of care. We used logistic regression to analyze use and availability of interpreters. Most physicians reported treating LEP patients. Among physicians using interpreters within the last 12 months, 42 percent reported using trained medical interpreters, 21 percent telephone interpreter services, and 75 percent reported using untrained interpreters to communicate with LEP patients. ...

Pediatricians and Health Literacy: Descriptive Results From a National Survey

PEDIATRICS — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:31:18 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians are aware of health literacy–related problems and the need for good communication with families but struggle with time demands to implement these skills. Despite awareness of communication-related errors in patient care, pediatricians report underutilizing enhanced techniques known to improve communication. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

Feelings of stigmatization may discourage HIV patients from proper care, study finds

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0100

The feeling of stigmatization that people living with HIV often experience doesn't only exact a psychological toll — new UCLA research suggests it can also lead to quantifiably negative health outcomes. In a study published in the October issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers from the division of general internal medicine and health services research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA found that a large number of HIV-positive individuals who reported feeling stigmatized also reported poor access to care or suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). In fact, individuals who experienced high levels of internalized stigma were four times as likely as those who didn't to report poor access to medical care; they were t...

The Role of Patient Activation on Patient–Provider Communication and Quality of Care for US and Foreign Born Latino Patients

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:20:55 +0100

CONCLUSIONS Interventions that augment patient activation could increase quality of care and improved patient–provider communication, potentially reducing health care disparities for Latinos. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11606-009-1074-xAuthors Margarita Alegría, Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research 120 Beacon Street, 4th Floor Somerville MA 02143 USAWilliam Sribney, Third Way Statistics Columbia SC USADebra Perez, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Princeton NJ USAMara Laderman, Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research 120 Beacon Street, 4th Floor Somerville MA 02143 USAKristen Keefe, Boston College Chestnut Hi...

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Perceived Discrimination and Self-Reported Quality of Care Among Latinos in the United States

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:20:54 +0100

CONCLUSIONS Given the association between perceived discrimination and quality of care, strategies to address discrimination in health-care settings may lead to improved patient satisfaction with care and possibly to improved treatment outcomes. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11606-009-1097-3Authors Debra Perez, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Princeton NJ USAWilliam M. Sribney, Third Way Statistics White Lake NY USAMichael A. Rodríguez, Department of Family Medicine, UCLA Los Angeles CA USA Journal Journal of General Internal MedicineOnline ISSN 1525-1497Print ISSN 0884-8734 Journal Volume Volume 24 Journal Issue Volume 24, Supplement 3 / November, 2009 (Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine)

Importance of building confidence in patient communication and clinical skills among chiropractic students.

The Journal of Chiropractic Education — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:20:03 +0100

CONCLUSION: Fostering chiropractic students' development of confidence in what they say and do is of paramount importance not only to them as new practitioners but more importantly to the patient. There is no doubt that a better understanding of how confidence can be developed and consolidated during tertiary study should be a major goal of chiropractic education. PMID: 19826543 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Journal of Chiropractic Education)

Communication and documentation considerations for electronic health records

Journal of Healthcare Risk Management — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Electronic health records (EHRs) are here to stay, and their use is expected to grow significantly in the future. It is incumbent on risk managers to ensure their use does not inhibit good provider-to-patient communication. Providing education and strategies on how to make the patient encounter meaningful while the provider uses an EHR may increase patient satisfaction and may contribute to a favorable professional liability loss experience. Risk managers also need to have an understanding of the capabilities of each specific EHR system in the facility, the implications of the ability to cut-and-paste information from one provider entry to another, and knowledge of how to control the risk that comes with both copying forward and delayed EHR documentation. (Source: Journal of Healthcare Ris...

The Effect of Performance-Based Financial Incentives on Improving Patient Care Experiences: A Statewide Evaluation

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:18:03 +0100

CONCLUSIONS In the context of statewide measurement, reporting, and performance-based financial incentives, patient care experiences significantly improved. In order to promote patient-centered care in pay for performance and public reporting programs, the mechanisms by which program features influence performance improvement should be clarified. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11606-009-1122-6Authors Hector P. Rodriguez, University of California Department of Health Services, School of Public Health Box 951772 Los Angeles CA 90095-1772 USATed von Glahn, Pacific Business Group on Health San Francisco CA USAMarc N. Elliott, RAND Corporation Santa Monica CA USAWilliam H. Rogers, Tufts Medical Center Institute for Clinical Research and H...

Breast tenderness during hormone replacement therapy linked to elevated cancer risk

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:00:00 +0100

This study compared the daily use of oral conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg), or CEE+MPA, with the daily use of a placebo pill. Of the participants in the trial, 8,506 took estrogen plus progestin and 8,102 were given placebos. Participants underwent mammography and clinical breast exams at the start of the trial and annually thereafter. Self-reported breast tenderness was assessed at the beginning of the trial and one year later, and invasive breast cancer over the next 5.6 years was confirmed by medical record review. Women on the combination therapy who did not have breast tenderness at the trial's inception were found to have a threefold greater risk of developing tenderness at the one-year mark, compared with participants...

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101 Ways to Use Twitter in Your Hospital

LPN to RN Blog — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:44:07 +0100

Nurses are an essential part of hospitals and can function as a communication lifeline to patients, doctors, and others in the facility. These days, there are lots of different tools you can use to communicate, but Twitter is an exciting one to consider, just because it holds so much potential. Read on, and you’ll learn about 101 different ways you can use Twitter in your hospital. Marketing & Public Relations Get the word out and promote your hospital with Twitter. Monitor for problems: Find out what’s being said about your hospital, and respond to it on Twitter. Get support for causes: Tweet about causes that are important to your hospital and patients. Share news releases: Use your hospital’s official Twitter channel to let people know what’s happening. Anno...

Social Media Related Tweets and Insights

Clinical Cases and Images — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:19:00 +0100

From my Twitter account:How Social Media is Revolutionizing Your Doctor Visits - Mashable http://bit.ly/AWiIy@steverubel Two fascinating accounts of Former Senator Bob Graham and his lifelogging ways. http://bit.ly/iTVZc and http://bit.ly/LTIopMacarthur Ob/Gyn Practice - Facebook fan page http://bit.ly/4nnYo6 - Is your practice using Facebook for communication with patients?Laika’s MedLibLog: "Medicine is art as much as homeopathy is science" http://bit.ly/1Q3usFTC: Bloggers Must Disclose Payments for Reviews http://bit.ly/1139ADIs cystatin C the next creatinine? Cystatin C predicts mortality and provides more accurate assessments of GFR http://bit.ly/40e1lXThe mobile phone is becoming a powerful instrument of learning in remote African villages. http://bit.ly/4f2F4QTweets are not resear...

Newer conceptualizations of schizophrenia demand a name change

Schizophrenia Research — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In their review, “Schizophrenia “just the facts” 4. Clinical features and conceptualization”, review the conceptualization of schizophrenia but state that the value of changing the name is “questionable” and “semantics”. I strongly disagree with this. The name schizophrenia needs to be urgently changed in the service of doctor patient communication, education and stigma reduction. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)

The Symbolic and Material Nature of Physician Identity: Implications for Physician-Patient Communication

Health Communication — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Health Communication)

Aspects of the Patient-centered Medical Home currently in place: initial findings from preparing the personal physician for practice.

Famly Medicine — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Many features of the PCMH were already established at baseline in programs participating in P(4). PMID: 19816826 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Famly Medicine)

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Guided Care Boosts Knowledge of Patient Needs

Internal Medicine News — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CHICAGO — A primary care delivery model for older patients with multiple chronic illnesses increased physician understanding of the patients' clinical conditions and improved communication with patients and families, in a randomized trial at eight primary care practices. (Source: Internal Medicine News)

Care Model Shores Up Satisfaction Among Elderly, Chronic Patients

Family Practice News — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Chicago — A primary care delivery model for older patients with multiple chronic illnesses increased physician understanding of the patients' clinical conditions and improved communication with patients and families, in a randomized trial at eight primary care practices. (Source: Family Practice News)

An Evaluation of Patient-Physician Communication Style During Telemedicine Consultations

Journal of Medical Internet Research — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The study findings indicate differences between TM and IP consultations in terms of physician-patient communication style. Results suggest that, when comparing TM and IP consultations in terms of physician-patient communication, TM visits are more physician centered, with the physician controlling the dialogue and the patient taking a relatively passive role. Further research is needed to determine whether these differences are significant and whether they have relevance in terms of health outcomes and patient satisfaction with care. (Source: Journal of Medical Internet Research)

Different Models for Oral Anticoagulation Management May Be Applied Provided That Minimal Assistance Criteria Are Fulfilled: An Italian Experience

Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:47:21 +0100

Semin Thromb Hemost 2009; 35: 568-573DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240017ABSTRACTThe efficacy of adjusted-dose oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) in the prevention of thrombotic complications in various clinical conditions is well documented. Management of OAT requires a trained physician, an organized system of follow-up, reliable international normalized ratio monitoring, and good patient communication and education. Drug interactions with coumarins are a major cause of excessive anticoagulation and hence could be an important determinant of bleeding in patients on OAT.[...]© Thieme Medical PublishersGet connected:Table of contents | Abstract | Full text (Source: Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis)

What My Patients Taught Me About Love [ART OF ONCOLOGY]

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

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Diabetes Support -- Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Diabetes News from dLife.com — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

In this study, empathic listening and eliciting patient preferences were not associated with differences in glycemic control outcomes. Jochen Gensichen, from University Hospital Jena, Germany, worked with a team of researchers to correlate 3897 patients' views on their doctors' levels of practical and communicative support with those patient's glycosylated haemoglobin levels. He said, "Despite improvements in the quality of diabetes care over the last decade, considerable room for improvement remains. Two possible areas where care could be improved are in doctor-patient communication and levels of practical support offered. We sought to assess the effects of these factors on glycemic control". The researchers found that physicians' characteristic level of practical support was associa...

Diabetes Support -- Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Diabetes News from dLife.com — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Infectious Diseases Society of America Society Awards

ScanGrants feed — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the IDSA Education and Research Foundation offer awards to individuals to honor outstanding achievement in the field of infectious diseases. Society Awards have been bestowed upon pioneers in the study of newly emerging diseases, inspiring and supportive teachers, those who paved the way for life-saving vaccines, those committed to serving the needs of communities most susceptible to but least equipped to deal with infectious diseases, and many others who have made a great impact on the field of infectious diseases. IDSA Society Award recipients have varying interests but are alike in their passion for their work and dedication to making a difference, whether through direct patient care or basic research. Applicants and sponsors must b...

Discussion about switch strategy in the adjuvant hormonal therapy of breast cancer: psychological aspects of physician-patient communication

Annals of Oncology — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Patient–physician communication difficulties about switch strategy in the adjuvant hormonal treatment of breast cancer are, at least in part, related to psychological and relational factors. It is likely that training programs, improving doctor's communication skills, can overcome these problems. (Source: Annals of Oncology)

Ready to Use Doctor-Patient Communication Didactic Curriculum (Yvonne Murphy MD)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

These slides are an introduction and overview of a fully developed curriculum to teach doctor-patient communication skills which includes 14 one hour modules. The entire curriculum is available upon request. The topics include delivering bad news, advance directives/end of life care, chronic pain, sexual history, terminating the doctor-patient relationship, health behavior change/motivational interviewing, angry patients, language barriers/cultural competency, discussing medical errors, shared decision making, increasing adherance, empathy, and family meetings. The core template of each teaching session is reviewed and includes educational objectives and background, evidence based research, description of the key communication skill, demonstration of the skill, and a skills exercise. These...

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Beyond literacy and numeracy in patient provider communication: Focus groups suggest roles for empowerment, provider attitude and language

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our most salient finding was that for most of our participants there was no clear demarcation between literacy and numeracy, language interpretation, health communication, interpersonal relations with their provider and the rest of their experience with the health care system. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Doctor–Patient Communication in Glaucoma Care: Analysis of Videotaped Encounters in Community-Based Office Practice

Ophthalmology — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Doctor–patient dialogue was universally physician centered; physicians spoke 70% of the words and asked closed-ended questions that restricted the patient's contribution to “yes/no” or brief responses. A minority of physicians ever asked patients if they had questions. In contrast with the patient-centered research interview, doctors' physician-centered communication failed to identify most patients who had missed doses.Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. (Source: Ophthalmology)

Incorporating and evaluating an integrated gender-specific medicine curriculum:a survey study in Dutch GP Training

BMC Medical Education — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: In summary, gender-specific medicine training has been successfully integrated into an existing GP training curriculum. The modules and teaching methods are transferable to other training institutes for postgraduate training. The evaluation of the teaching programme shows a positive impact on GP registrars' gender awareness. (Source: BMC Medical Education)

The meaning of being a man with intestinal stoma due to colorectal cancer: an anthropological approach to masculinities.

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This study analyzes the meanings that men with intestinal stoma attribute to their colorectal cancer experience and its treatment. The medical anthropology framework, gender identity and the ethnographic methods were used. A total of 16 men from 40 to 79 years of age, residents in Ribeirão Preto and neighboring cities, SP, Brazil participated in the study. Data collection was carried out through participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Two groups of meanings were selected through inductive data analysis: acknowledging the severity of the disease and the distress of having cancer, and being submitted to surgery and suffering from a stoma. These meanings revealed the tension that develops between traditional patterns of masculinity and the new identities resulting from th...

[In Process Citation]

L' Orthodontie Francaise — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Binhas E As practicing professionals it is essential that orthodontists should think carefully about their status of care givers and their relationships with their patients. In doing this, they should analyze the dynamics of the impact of their therapeutic team on patients throughout the entire treatment procedure. It is equally important that they understand the decisive importance of the way patients are welcomed into the office ambiance and the way staff members communicate with them and take into consideration their needs and expectations. Today specialists in dento-facial orthopedics and their staff members are usually well versed in techniques and technologies. On the other hand, while they may be giving serious thought and study to behavioral aspects of their practices,...

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HAROW: Meeting prostate cancer patients’ communication needs – First results on the quality of provider-patient communication

Journal of Men's Health — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Background: Research on psychosocial quality of care has shown that an empathic communication employed by physicians and patient-centered questioning and information techniques are positively associated with better health-related outcomes and reduced side-effects, especially in cancer patients. It is the aim of our analysis to examine the psychosocial quality of care of locally confined prostate cancer patients in Germany. (Source: Journal of Men's Health)

Cell phone communication with patients: love it or hate it?

Family Practice Management — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Dreazen JR PMID: 19751032 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Family Practice Management)

Cell phone communication with patients: love it or hate it?

Family Practice Management — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chinn M PMID: 19751031 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Family Practice Management)

An observational real-time study to analyze junior physicians' working hours in the field of gastroenterology.

Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: This is the first real time analysis on how hospital gastroenterologists spend their working hours. Some of the problems with work routine reported by the doctors themselves were partly confirmed. With regard to the study results a rearrangement of job tasks coupled with technological solutions may prove helpful in reducing the burden on gastroenterologists and thereby improving the quality of medical care. PMID: 19750428 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie)

The Forgotten Spouse [ART OF ONCOLOGY]

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

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New Data Published in the Journal Population Health Management Show Significant Misuse of Pain Medication Among Chronic Pain Population

Drugs.com - Clinical Trials — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:10:31 +0100

Study of Nearly 1 Million Pain Medication Monitoring Tests Highlights an Important Opportunity to Improve Patient Care and Doctor-Patient Communication BALTIMORE, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- A study published in the August issue of the... (Source: Drugs.com - Clinical Trials)

Medical word use in clinical encounters

Health Expectations — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions This study provides insights into how the use of medical terminology could contribute to misunderstanding. Findings suggest that steps already promoted in the literature to improve doctor[ndash]patient communication may also ameliorate potential problems arising from the use of medical terminology. (Source: Health Expectations)

Predictive value of serial measurements of quality of life on all-cause mortality in prostate cancer patients: data from CaPSURE™ (cancer of the prostate strategic urologic research endeavor) database

Quality of Life Research — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:53:46 +0100

Conclusion This study demonstrated that several domains of HRQOL were significantly associated with survival in a large group of patients with localized prostate cancer. This association was maintained over the course of disease regardless of the time of the assessment. Results from our study have both research and clinical relevance. They could provide information that enable us to not only improve communication with patients and families, but also to develop interventions and treatments best suited for the patient. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11136-009-9526-7Authors Natalia Sadetsky, UCSF San Francisco CA USAAlan Hubbard, UCSF San Francisco CA USAPeter R. Carroll, UCSF San Francisco CA USAWilliam Satariano, UCSF San Francisco CA USA Journal Qual...

Patient–doctor interaction in rehabilitation: The relationship between perceived interaction quality and long-term treatment results

Patient Education and Counseling — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our results suggest a correlation between perceived interaction quality, as defined by our questionnaire and treatment effects six months after discharge. Comparisons of patient and physician evaluations showed that physicians seem to be successful in building relationships on the affective level, but less successful on the instrumental level (i.e. information, structuring and reinforcement). They also perceive disturbances on the relational and organisational level more strongly than patients.Practice implications: Our data underline the importance of interaction quality for the success of rehabilitation and thus the importance of specific skills such as providing and collecting information, recognizing patients’ concerns and goals as well as reinforcement of health related ...

Clinical competencies and the basic sciences: An online case tutorial paradigm for delivery of integrated clinical and basic science content

Anatomical Sciences Education — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Understanding the relevance of basic science knowledge in the determination of patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment is critical to good medical practice. One method often used to direct students in the fundamental process of integrating basic science and clinical information is problem-based learning (PBL). The faculty facilitated small group discussion format traditionally used for PBL is a significant challenge for faculty and facilities with a large class. To provide inductive learning to a large class early in the preclerkship curriculum, a series of online, case-based tutorials was created using the method of inquiry-based learning. The tutorial paradigm is designed to challenge students through a guided inquiry process in which clinical skills and basic science information ar...

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The impact of gender dyads on doctor–patient communication: A systematic review

Patient Education and Counseling — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The evidence base is small, and a more rigorous approach to reporting quality indicators is needed. However, observed dyad differences may provide different opportunities for effective communication and clinical outcomes for patients. Further research with a primary focus on gender dyad effects is needed to test this.Practice implications: Findings have implications for policy, healthcare organisations, and individual doctors alike, raising awareness about workforce issues and communication skills training needs in particular. (Source: Patient Education and Counseling)

The Moment of Truth [ART OF ONCOLOGY]

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

Peri-operative management of anti-platelet agents

ANZ Journal of Surgery — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Peri-operative anti-platelet management and communication with patients appears to be sub-optimal. There is a need for standardized processes whereby informed decisions regarding peri-operative anti-platelet therapy are made and communicated clearly to the patients. (Source: ANZ Journal of Surgery)

Disparities in Patient Satisfaction Among Hispanics: The Role of Language Preference

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:54:25 +0100

Abstract Hispanic and Spanish-speaking patients experience lower satisfaction with their health care when compared to whites and English speakers. We attempt to clarify the relationship between language preference and patient satisfaction in Hispanics. Study participants were Hispanic patients recruited from two clinics that serve an exclusively Hispanic population. We compared baseline levels of patient satisfaction among English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and bilingual participants. Multivariate linear regression was used to model the effect of language preference on patient satisfaction. Baseline comparisons revealed that bilingual patients experienced higher satisfaction with doctor–patient communication and the office staff than Spanish-speaking patients. Multivari...

Measuring mechanisms for quality assurance in primary care systems in transition: test of a new instrument in Slovenia and Uzbekistan.

Quality in Primary Care — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:48:02 +0100

CONCLUSION: Application of the instrument helps decision makers to identify improvement areas in the infrastructure for managing the quality of primary care. PMID: 19622267 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Quality in Primary Care)

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[Diagnostic procedures and frequency of dementia : A prospective study in the daily routine of a geriatric hospital (PAOLA study).]

Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This study could not clarify in 10.9% (n=111) of all cases whether dementia was present in a patient at the time studied. It was mainly limited due to multiple concomitant morbidities and reduced patient communication skills.We recommend that structured diagnostic procedures and treatments should be performed at specialized centers in order to avoid missing any treatable underlying diseases. In addition, the patients should be followed up at regular intervals. PMID: 19629559 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie)

Barriers and facilitators to evidence based care of type 2 diabetes patients: experiences of general practitioners participating to a quality improvement program

Implementation Science — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Qualitative research nested in an experimental trial may clarify the improvements that a QIP may bring about in a general practice, provide insight into GPs' approach to diabetes care and reveal the program's limits. Implementation of a QIP encounters an array of cognitive, motivational and relational obstacles that are embedded in a patient-health care provider relationship. (Source: Implementation Science)

Assessing the need for communication training for specialists in poison information. - Planalp S, Crouch B, Rothwell E, Ellington L.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:37:03 +0100

INTRODUCTION: Effective communication has been shown to be essential to physician-patient communication and may be even more critical for poison control center (PCC) calls because of the absence of visual cues, the need for quick and accurate information e... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Communication with relatives and collusion in palliative care: A cross-cultural perspective

Indian Journal of Palliative Care — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:14:26 +0100

Chaturvedi Santosh K, Loiselle Carmen G, Chandra Prabha SIndian Journal of Palliative Care 2009 15(1):2-9Handling collusion among patients and family members is one of the biggest challenges that palliative care professionals face across cultures. Communication with patients and relatives can be complex particularly in filial cultures where families play an important role in illness management and treatment decision-making. Collusion comes in different forms and intensity and is often not absolute. Some illness-related issues may be discussed with the patient, whereas others are left unspoken. Particularly in palliative care, the transition from curative to palliative treatment and discussion of death and dying are often topics involving collusion. Communication patterns may also be influe...

Plain Language For Health Care Professionals To Improve Communication With Patients

ScienceDaily Headlines — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:58:12 +0100

The doctor speaks "medicalese," and the patient's eyes glaze over. Researchers noticed this familiar failure to communicate when health care researchers asked people to take part in studies. So they created a Toolkit that illustrates strategies for communicating clearly with study participants. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

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Clinician-patient communication: evidence-based recommendations to guide practice in cancer

Current Oncology — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:09:54 +0100

Conclusions There is evidence to support general clinician-patient communication approaches, although the preferences of cancer patients regarding such communication exhibit individual and cultural variability. Recommendations are provided, based upon evidence, the consensus of an expert panel, and feedback from a survey of external practitioners. Evidence evaluating the role of decision aids and strategies to facilitate better communication is inconsistent, although they may be of value for some patients. (Source: Current Oncology)

Information gaps for patients requiring craniotomy for benign brain lesion: a qualitative study

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:17:14 +0100

This study aimed to determine the information needs of a subset of neurosurgical patients. Qualitative case study methodology was used. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with ambulatory adult patients who had undergone surgery for a benign brain tumor, arteriovenous malformation, or unruptured aneurysm. Interviews were digitally audio recorded and transcribed, and the data subjected to thematic analysis. Six overarching themes emerged from the data: (1) the amount of information patients want varies; (2) the type of information needed is not limited to information about treatment options and risks; (3) patients engage in independent information seeking for a variety of reasons; (4) patients consider compassion from their surgeon as important; (5) direct communica...

Physician-patient communication as a tool that can change adherence

Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:05:20 +0100

(Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology)

Do We Know What Patients Want? The Doctor-Patient Communication Gap in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: In FGIDs there is a communication gap between patients and gastroenterologists. Importantly, at follow-up, patients do not acknowledge their FGID diagnosis. This communication gap and lack of acceptance of a functional diagnosis are likely to influence future management and health care utilization. (Source: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology)

Randomized trial of reattribution on psychosocial talk between doctors and patients with medically unexplained symptoms.

Psychological Medicine — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: After RT, some patients discussed psychosocial issues extensively but GPs did not probe underlying psychosocial issues. They gave mixed psychosocial and somatic messages about MUS, which may have increased patients' concerns about their health. GPs should actively seek the disclosure of underlying psychosocial problems and give clear, unambiguous messages to MUS patients when they are willing to discuss psychosocial issues. PMID: 19573262 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Psychological Medicine)

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Nurse Practitioner/Patient Communication Styles in Clinical Practice

The Journal for Nurse Practitioners — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Nurse practitioners (NPs) spend more than two thirds of patient-encounter clinical time in intrapersonal communication. The NP literature has little on NP/patient communication styles. The purpose of this study was to examine and document the most common verbal communication style used by NPs in patient interactions. Content analysis was used to analyze 53 NP/patient transcripts for communication style. Based on the transcript analysis, only a minority of NPs used a patient-centered communication style. (Source: The Journal for Nurse Practitioners)

Management of test results in family medicine offices.

Annals of Family Medicine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Understanding the components of safety awareness and technological adoption can assist family medicine offices in evaluating their own results management processes and help them design systems that can lead to higher quality care. PMID: 19597172 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Family Medicine)

Educating health professions students about the issues involved in communicating effectively: a novel approach.

The Journal of Nursing Education — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This article presents the underlying assumptions for this change-oriented project and describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Rounds for an interdisciplinary group of graduate students during a 4-year period. PMID: 19634261 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Journal of Nursing Education)

Physician-patient communication as a tool that can change adherence.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bender B PMID: 19663119 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology)

Participant observation of time allocation, direct patient contact, and simultaneous activities in hospital physicians

BMC Health Services Research — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Patient-related working time in hospitals is limited. The potential detrimental effects of frequently observed simultaneous activities on performance outcomes need further consideration. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)

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[ART OF ONCOLOGY] "I Think You Are Pretty; I Don't Know Why Everyone Can't See That": Reflections From a Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivor Camp

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

"I Think You Are Pretty; I Don't Know Why Everyone Can't See That": Reflections From a Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivor Camp [ART OF ONCOLOGY]

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

Feasibility of a patient-driven approach to recruiting older adults, caregivers, and clinicians for provider–patient communication research

Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: About half of the patients and caregivers (n = 54; 51%) and most of the PCPs (n = 31; 76%) who we approached agreed to an audiorecording of the patient's next PCP visit. Characteristics of patient, caregiver, and PCP participants were compared to those of nonparticipants. Patient characteristics did not differ by participation status. Caregivers who volunteered for the study were more likely to be female and married than were those who declined to participate. Compared to nonparticipants, PCPs who agreed to the study were appraised slightly more favorably by patients' caregivers on a measure of satisfaction with care on the day of the visit. The vast majority of participating PCPs (95%) reported that the study had little or no impact on the flow of routine clinical operations....

From the eye of the nurses: 360-degree evaluation of residents

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

We describe the significance of 360-degree evaluation of residents by the nursing staff.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1642 nurses' anonymous evaluations on 26 residents from 2004 to 2007 was performed. Nurses' evaluations of residents on communication with patients, interactions with peers, and professionalism were compared to faculty evaluations and standard medical examination scores. Data were analyzed with the use of the chi-square test, the t test, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and Spearman's correlation. A P value of (Source: Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions)

Doctor–Patient Communication about Advance Directives in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Journal of Palliative Medicine — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:58:46 +0100

Journal of Palliative Medicine Jun 2009, Vol. 12, No. 6: 547-553. (Source: Journal of Palliative Medicine)

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The effectiveness of the Screening Inventory of Psychosocial Problems (SIPP) in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy: design of a cluster randomised controlled trial

BMC Cancer — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

DiscussionUsing the SIPP may prevent underdiagnosis of early symptoms reflecting psychosocial problems, should facilitate communication between physicians and patients about psychosocial distress and may contribute to adequate referral to relevant (psychosocial) caregivers.Trial Registration: NCT00859768 (Source: BMC Cancer)

New Site from M.D. Anderson Focuses on Communication with Patients.

Oncology Times - Current Table Of Contents — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:22:17 +0100

Page: 6DOI: 10.1097/01.COT.0000356646.24078.89 (Source: Oncology Times - Current Table Of Contents)

Computer-Based Screenings Increase Detection Rate for Intimate-Partner Violence

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:59:35 +0100

Study shows that use of a computer-based questionnaire, combined with computer-generated reports on patient health risks, improved physician-patient communication about domestic abuse. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Communication outcome after stroke: a new measure of the carer's perspective.

Clinical Rehabilitation — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The Carer COAST scale has considerable potential as a reliable and valid measure of the carer's perspective on the communication effectiveness of stroke survivors. Intercorrelations with COPE provide specific evidence of the impact of caring for a person with communication difficulties following a stroke. PMID: 19482891 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Rehabilitation)

Don't let recession pressures up your exposure: under-promise and over-deliver

Modern Medicine — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:03:50 +0100

Communication with patients is key when trying to avoid lawsuits, so make sure the patient is educated about the risks and results. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Limiting medical residents' work hours would cost $1.6 billion annually

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:15:00 +0100

New recommendations by the national Institute of Medicine to limit the work hours of medical residents and improve their educational conditions would cost the nation's teaching hospitals about $1.6 billion annually to hire substitute workers, according to a new report from the RAND Corp. and UCLA. While society may benefit if such changes reduce medical errors, as intended, limiting trainee workloads would create a substantial new expense for academic medical centers, according to the study, published in the May 21 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. "Adopting new restrictions on the work hours of physicians in training would impose a substantial new cost on the nation's 8,500 physician training programs," said lead author Dr. Teryl K. Nuckols, assistant profe...

Systematic review of the effectiveness of integrated care pathways: what works, for whom, in which circumstances?

International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions ICPs are most effective in contexts where patient care trajectories are predictable. Their value in settings in which recovery pathways are more variable is less clear. ICPs are most effective in bringing about behavioural changes where there are identified deficiencies in services; their value in contexts where inter-professional working is well established is less certain. None of the studies reviewed included an economic evaluation and thus it is not known whether their benefits justify the costs of their implementation. (Source: International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare)

Reliability associated with the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) adapted for the telemedicine context

Patient Education and Counseling — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The traditional RIAS is reliable when applied across multiple participants in the telemedicine context. Reliability of technology-related subcategories could not be evaluated; however, the aggregate technology-related cluster was found to be reliable and may be especially relevant in understanding communication patterns with patients new to the telemedicine setting. Use of the RIAS instrument is encouraged to facilitate comparison between traditional, face-to-face clinics and telemedicine; among diverse consultation mediums and technologies; and across different specialties. Future research is necessary to further investigate the reliability and validity of adding technology-related subcategories to the RIAS. The limited number of technology-related utterances, however, implies...

Treatment-related symptoms among underserved women with breast cancer: the impact of physician–patient communication

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:02:43 +0100

This study assessed the impact of patient–physician communication on symptom resolution. A cross-sectional, California statewide survey was conducted among 921 low-income women with BC. Ethnic/racial differences in BC treatment-related symptoms (pain, nausea/vomiting, depression) reporting and physician’ awareness of these symptoms were assessed by patient report. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the impact of patient–physician communication on symptom resolution. Depression was the most common symptom reported by patients (66%), yet physicians were the least aware of it (26.3%), especially among less-acculturated Latinas (18.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (14%; P < 0.001). Greater patient-perceived self-efficacy in communication wit...

Nurse–patient communication barriers in Iranian nursing

International Nursing Review — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: It can be concluded that nursing managers and healthcare system planners should focus on eliminating or modifying the barriers stated by the two groups, particularly the shared ones. It is suggested that understanding the cultural aspects of nurse[ndash]patient communication barriers in various contexts can help nurses.Limitations: The study relied on self-report by a limited sample of nurses and patients. The responses should now be tested by a larger sample and then by empirical research into actual practice in order to test whether the nurses' and patients' perceived ideas of communication barriers are substantiated. (Source: International Nursing Review)

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Considering Culture in Physician-- Patient Communication During Colorectal Cancer Screening

Qualitative Health Research — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100

We examined 44 videotaped observations of clinic visits that included a CRC screening recommendation and transcripts from semistructured interviews that doctors and patients separately completed following the visit. We found that interpersonal relationship themes such as power distance, trust, directness/ indirectness, and an ability to listen, as well as personal health beliefs, emerged as affecting patients' definitions of provider—patient effective communication. In addition, we found that in discordant physician—patient interactions (when each is from a different ethnic group), physicians did not solicit or address cultural barriers to CRC screening and patients did not volunteer culture-related concerns regarding CRC screening. (Source: Qualitative Health Research)

End-of-life care in heart failure

Current Cardiology Reports — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:06:18 +0100

Abstract The clinical syndrome of heart failure is increasing in prevalence, as is the number of elderly persons with heart failure. Increasing frailty and progression of heart failure in large numbers of patients means clinicians are increasingly challenged to provide end-of-life care for heart failure patients. End-of-life care has been little studied, but management can be understood from early clinical trials of advanced heart failure. Evidence-based heart failure medications, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and β blockers, improve symptoms in patients with advanced heart failure and depressed ejection fraction and should usually be continued in end-stage disease. Patients also should have ongoing meticulous management of fluid status to maximize qu...

Teaching Medical Students to Address Controversy in Women's Health (Michelle A Roett MD, MPH)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Tue, 05 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Women's health topics were introduced to first year medical students to establish skills in: 1) researching background information for informed doctor-patient discussions, including guideline and evidence interpretation; 2) using multimedia resources to gauge public opinion, access legal ramifications, and information available to patients; and 3) debating topics associated with conflicting evidence or public controversy. Weekly 2-hours sessions featured topics including: prescribing hormone replacement therapy; screening for ovarian cancer; the rights of minors to confidential sexual health care; mandating Human Papillomavirus vaccines for children; availability of over-the-counter emergency contraception; and mandating prenatal genetic testing. Topics were pre-assigned and students colla...

Communication and self-management education at nurse-led COPD clinics in primary health care

Patient Education and Counseling — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Nurses rarely planned the consultations on an individual basis and rarely used motivational dialogue in self-management education and in smoking cessation.Practice implications: The findings could be used to help nurses to reflect on how to improve the structure of the visit, self-management education, smoking cessation and patient communication. (Source: Patient Education and Counseling)

Risk Assessment and Risk Distortion: Finding the Balance

Journal of midwifery & women's health — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Pregnancy and birth have been conceptualized as medically problematic, with all pregnant women considered at risk and in need of medical monitoring. Universal application of risk scoring and surveillance as preemptive strategies in an effort to reduce risk is now standard obstetric practice. Labeling women “high risk” can result in more unnecessary interventions and have negative psychologic sequelae. When perceived pregnancy risk is out of proportion to the real risk, and when risk management procedures are applied to all women with benefit for only a few, the use of technology in caring for pregnant women becomes normalized. A learned reliance on technology can diminish women's own authoritative knowledge of pregnancy and birth. This may also have the unintended consequence of contri...

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[Art of Oncology] Every Cancer Patient Needs Radiation Therapy!

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

Online diabetes management may improve quality of care

Modern Medicine — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

The use of online glucose-monitoring programs could lead to better physician-patient communication, as well as improved patient knowledge and accountability, according to a pilot study. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Online diabetes management may improve quality of care

Modern Medicine Medical Economics — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

SMS messaging can help NHS to go 'green'

NHS Networks — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:14:54 +0100

22 April 2009 was Earth Day, the increasing adoption of iPLATO’s text messaging system, Patient Care Messaging, by NHS organisations across the UK for health promotion initiatives and GP appointment reminders is proving to be a great way of creating a ‘greener’ NHS. By implementing the iPLATO system, many NHS healthcare provider organisations have been able to provide an alternative communication ‘channel’ to paper and mail services. Users of the iPLATO system are achieving a significant decrease in the use of paper and mail services (a key contributor of CO2 emissions in the NHS), as a result of using the ‘two-way’ SMS system for a proportion of their healthcare provider/patient communication. The use of paper and mail services in the NHS makes up...