How is test-related information communicated in Australian Emergency Departments? - ED clinicians' and patients' perspectives.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read More Add to Saved list
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Ireland NLM ID: 8406280 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-5134 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07383991 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Patient Educ Couns
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Limerick : Elsevier
      Original Publication: Princeton, N.J. : Excerpta Medica, c1983-
    • Subject Terms:
      Communication* ; Emergency Service, Hospital*; Australia ; Humans
    • Abstract:
      Objectives: To investigate the communication processes involving test-related information in Australian Emergency Departments (EDs); specifically what and how ED clinicians communicate test-related information to patients, what patients know and understand about the provided information, and how patients view the potential to access their test-results electronically.
      Methods: We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with clinicians (n = 26) and patients (n = 32) across three Australian EDs. Interviews were transcribed and analysed iteratively, following principles of qualitative content analysis and grounded theory.
      Results: Depending on various contextual (e.g. time pressures) and patient factors (e.g. perceived health literacy), ED clinicians provided, and patients recalled receiving, test-related information along a continuum, ranging from "no or limited" information to "specific" information. Many patients were confused about how to access their test-results. Patients welcomed the potential for future electronic access to results but viewed their individual health and/or computer literacy skills and knowledge as potential barriers.
      Conclusions: EDs are highly dynamic environments where contextual forces impinge on the amount and quality of test-related information that clinicians communicate to ED patients.
      Practice Implications: Systemic and patient factors need to be addressed to optimise the provision of test-related information in ED settings, improve patient understanding and foster patient empowerment.
      Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None to declare.
      (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Communication; Diagnostic testing; Emergency department; Health services research; Patient empowerment; Qualitative research
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20210127 Date Completed: 20210624 Latest Revision: 20210624
    • Publication Date:
      20240513
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.pec.2021.01.009
    • Accession Number:
      33500178