A conceptual model of the role of communication in surrogate decision making for hospitalized adults

Objective

To build a conceptual model of the role of communication in decision making, based on literature from medicine, communication studies and medical ethics.

Methods

We proposed a model and described each construct in detail. We review what is known about interpersonal and patient–physician communication, described literature about surrogate–clinician communication, and discussed implications for our developing model.

Results

The communication literature proposes two major elements of interpersonal communication: information processing and relationship building. These elements are composed of constructs such as information disclosure and emotional support that are likely to be relevant to decision making. We propose these elements of communication impact decision making, which in turn affects outcomes for both patients and surrogates. Decision making quality may also mediate the relationship between communication and outcomes.

Conclusion

Although many elements of the model have been studied in relation to patient–clinician communication, there is limited data about surrogate decision making. There is evidence of high surrogate distress associated with decision making that may be alleviated by communication-focused interventions. More research is needed to test the relationships proposed in the model.

Practice implications

Good communication with surrogates may improve both the quality of medical decisions and outcomes for the patient and surrogate.     

Option Grids: Shared decision making made easier

Objective

To describe the exploratory use of short decision support tools for patients, called Option Grids. Option Grids are summary tables, using one side of paper to enable rapid comparisons of options, using questions that patients frequently ask (FAQs) and designed for face-to-face clinical encounters. To date, most evidence about ‘patient decision aids’ has been based on tools with high content levels, designed for patients to use independently, either before or after visits.

Methods

We studied the use of Option Grids in a quality improvement project, collecting field notes and conducting interviews with clinical teams.

Results

In the ‘Making Good Decisions in Collaboration’ (MAGIC) program, clinicians found that using Option Grids made it easier to explain the existence of options and reported a ‘handover’ effect, where patient involvement in decision making was enhanced.

Conclusion

Option Grids made options more visible and clinicians found it easier to undertake shared decision making when these tools were available. Used in a collaborative way, they enhance patients’ confidence and voice, increasing their involvement in collaborative dialogs.

Practice implications

Further work to confirm these preliminary findings is required, to measure processes and to assess whether these tools have similar impact in other clinical settings.     

Impact of a brief faculty training to improve patient-centered communication while using electronic health records

Objective

Despite rapid EHR adoption, few faculty receive training in how to implement patient-centered communication skills while using computers in exam rooms. We piloted a patient-centered EHR use training to address this issue.

A patient in the clinic; a person in the world. Why shared decision making needs to center on the person rather than the medical encounter

Interest in shared decision making (SDM) has increased and become widely promoted. However, from both practical and measurement perspectives, SDM’s origin as an outgrowth of patient autonomy has resulted in narrowly conceptualizing and operationalizing decision making. The narrow focus on individual patient autonomy fails in four main ways: 1) excluding several facets of the roles, actions, and influences of decision partners in decision making; 2) focusing solely on the medical encounter; 3) ignoring the informational environment to which patients have access; and 4) treating each encounter as independent of all others. In addition to creating a research agenda that could answer important outstanding questions about how decisions are made and the consequences thereof, reconceiving SDM as centered on the person rather than the medical encounter has the potential to transform how illness is experienced by patients and families and how clinicians find meaning in their work.     

Text-only and picture conversation aids both supported shared decision making for breast cancer surgery: Analysis from a cluster randomized trial

ObjectivesTo determine if two encounter conversation aids for early-stage breast cancer surgery increased observed and patient-reported shared decision making (SDM) compared with usual care and if observed and patient-reported SDM were associated.MethodsSurgeons in a cluster randomized trial at four cancer centers were randomized to use an Option Grid, Picture Option Grid, or usual care. We used bivariate statistics, linear regression, and multilevel models to evaluate the influence of trial arm, patient socioeconomic status and health literacy on observed SDM (via OPTION-5) and patient-reported SDM (via collaboRATE).ResultsFrom 311 recordings, OPTION-5 scores were 73/100 for Option Grid (n = 40), 56.3/100 for Picture Option Grid (n = 144), and 41.0/100 for usual care (n = 127; p < 0.0001). Top collaboRATE scores were 81.6 % for Option Grid, 80.0 % for Picture Option Grid, and 56.4 % for usual care (p < 0.001). Top collaboRATE scores correlated with an 8.60 point (95 %CI 0.66, 13.7) higher OPTION-5 score (p = 0.008) with no correlation in the multilevel analysis. Patients of lower socioeconomic status had lower OPTION-5 scores before accounting for clustering.ConclusionsBoth conversation aids led to meaningfully higher observed and patient-reported SDM. Observed and patient-reported SDM were not strongly correlated.Practice implicationsHealthcare providers could implement these conversation aids in real-world settings.     

Promoting shared decision making in advanced cancer: Development and piloting of a patient communication aid

Objective

To learn how to configure a patient communication aid (PCA) to facilitate shared decision-making (SDM) about treatment for advanced cancer.

The impact and utility of encounter patient decision aids: Systematic review,meta-analysis and narrative synthesis

Objective

To determine the effect of encounter patient decision aids (PDAs) as evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and conduct a narrative synthesis of non-randomized studies assessing feasibility, utility and their integration into clinical workflows.

Implementing decision and communication aids to facilitate patient-centered care in breast cancer: A case study

Objective

Decision Services (DS) provide support for breast cancer patients at the University of California, San Francisco to help ensure patient-centered care.

Methods

We examined a case study to explore whether our program practices matched our program theory, and what the patient in the case thought was effective and ineffective about our decision support interventions.

Results

The patient relied on a decision aid to educate her husband about her condition; felt that her question list contributed to a productive and efficient consultation with her oncologist; credited an audio-recording with helping her remember to follow-up with a genetic counselor; and reviewed the consultation summary 30 days into treatment in order to reflect on her decision. The patient rated the interventions highly on surveys, and experienced desirable reductions in decisional conflict, and improvements in knowledge. However, the question-prompting intervention was associated with a small decrease in self-efficacy, and the patient criticized the decision aid for omitting mention of a prognostic test.

Conclusion

This case illustrates how decision support interventions can be deployed to promote patient-centered care.

Practice implications

Breast care centers should consider distributing decision aids and assisting patients in listing questions, recording consultations, and obtaining written consultation summaries.     

Information and decision making: patients' needs and experiences in the course of breast cancer treatment

OBJECTIVE: This study explored breast cancer patients' preferences and experiences in receiving information and decision making in the course of the first 6 months of cancer treatment. METHODS: Participants were 135 German breast cancer patients, recruited within a week of either surgery or the beginning of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Women were asked to complete a self-explanatory questionnaire at baseline and 3 and 6 months later. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the importance of specific information needs. The quality of received information through the physician was rated significantly better at baseline than 6 months later. Nearly half of all patients changed their decision making preference at least at one assessment point. Shared decision making rarely took place in the first 6 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer patients' information needs and decision making preferences can change during treatment. Future research should analyse which patients change their decision making preference under which circumstances. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians need to investigate the decision making preferences and information needs of their patients in the course of treatment. Patient oriented communication skills might be helpful to meet patients' preferences and needs.     

Associations between thin slice ratings of affect and rapport and perceived patient-centeredness in primary care: Comparison of audio and video recordings

ObjectiveTo investigate associations between ratings of “thin slices” from recorded clinic visits and perceived patient-centeredness; to compare ratings from video recordings (sound and images) versus audio recordings (sound only).MethodsWe analyzed 133 video-recorded primary care visits and patient perceptions of patient-centeredness. Observers rated thirty-second thin slices on variables assessing patient affect, physician affect, and patient-physician rapport. Video and audio ratings were collected independently.ResultsIn multivariable analyses, ratings of physician positive affect (but not patient positive affect) were significantly positively associated with perceived patient-centeredness using both video and audio thin slices. Patient-physician rapport was significantly positively associated with perceived patient-centeredness using audio, but not video thin slices. Ratings from video and audio thin slices were highly correlated and had similar underlying factor structures.ConclusionPhysician (but not patient) positive affect is significantly associated with perceptions of patient-centeredness and can be measured reliably using either video or audio thin slices. Additional studies are needed to determine whether ratings of patient-physician rapport are associated with perceived patient-centeredness.Practice implicationsObserver ratings of physician positive affect have a meaningful positive association with patients’ perceptions of patient-centeredness. Patients appear to be highly attuned to physician positive affect during patient-physician interactions.     

Humanistic communication in the evaluation of shared decision making: A systematic review

Objective

To assess the extent to which evaluations of shared decision making (SDM) assess the extent and quality of humanistic communication (i.e., respect, compassion, empathy).

Communication matters: The impact of communication and participation in decision making on breast cancer patients’ depression and quality of life

Objective

This study explored the impact of breast cancer patients’ experiences of physician–patient communication and participation in decision making on patient depression and quality of life three and six months after primary treatment.

Methods

Participants were 135 German breast cancer patients, recruited within a week after the beginning of treatment. Women were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and three and six months later.

Results

Patients who rated their level of information at baseline as high were less depressed after three (p = .010) and six months (p < .001) and experienced higher quality of life after three (p < .001) and six months (p = .049). Patients who participated as much as they had wanted were more satisfied with the decision making process (p < .001) and had lower depression scores three months later (p = .005). The level of participation itself (passive, collaborative, active) and the treatment type had no impact.

Conclusion

The findings reveal the significance of physician–patient communication and stress the meaning of baseline depression for later adjustment.

Practice implications

A high level of information and tailoring the involvement in decision making to patients’ desired level can help patients to better cope with their illness. Physicians should assess and treat depression early in cancer treatment.     

Shared decision making: prostate cancer patients' appraisal of treatment alternatives and oncologists' eliciting and responding behavior, an explorative study

Objective

To assess clinicians’ use of shared decision making (SDM) skills, enabling patient treatment evaluations (appraisals); and varieties of patient appraisals and clinicians’ preceding and following utterances.

Methods

Two coders rated videotaped initial visits of 25 early-stage prostate cancer patients to their radiation oncologist. SDM skills were assessed using the Decision Analysis System for Oncology (DAS-O); appraisals and clinicians’ utterances were labeled using qualitative methodology.

Results

Clinicians offered a treatment choice to 10 patients. They informed 15/25 about pros and 20/25 about cons of options. Patients expressed 67 appraisals (median/visit = 2; range, 0-12). Half of appraisals were favorable and one-fourth was unfavorable toward treatment options. One-fifth referred to explicit tradeoffs. One-third of appraisals followed clinician requests; 58% followed clinician information. Clinicians approved almost half of appraisals. They contested, ignored or highlighted a minority.

Conclusion

Clinicians infrequently offered patients a choice or explored appraisals. Most appraisals supported rather than challenged treatment options. Clinicians most often legitimized appraisals, thereby helping patients to feel good about the decision. Exploring appraisals may help patients in forming more stable preferences, thus benefiting patients in the long run.

Practice implication

Clinicians should request patient appraisals and ascertain whether these seem well-informed before making treatment recommendations.     

Latina contraceptive decision-making and use: The importance of provider communication and shared decision-making for patient-centered care

BackgroundPoor patient-provider communication, among other reasons, is a notable barrier to contraceptive decision-making among Latinas. Patient-centered approaches to contraceptive counseling that optimize communication align with shared decision-making (SDM) –which is associated with satisfaction and continued contraceptive use among various populations.ObjectiveTo examine associations of patient-provider communication and importance of SDM tenets with consistent contraceptive use among a population of Latinas.Patient involvementFormative work for this study included prior qualitative and quantitative research with Latinas who expressed the importance of patient-provider communication during contraceptive counseling and therefore were instrumental in problem definition.MethodsCross-sectional surveys were administered to Latinas ages 15–29 years. Patient-provider communication, patient-reported importance of specific SDM tenets, and consistent contraception use were measured and analyzed for associations.Results103 Latinas (mean age = 21.4) participated. 33% of participants<21 years were using contraception consistently vs. 67% for those ≥ 21 (p = 0.003). Among participants ≥ 21, consistent users reported higher communication scores compared to inconsistent users and non-users (p = 0.042). For participants< 21, consistent users were more likely than inconsistent users and non-users to report that 2 SDM tenets (discussion of contraceptive preferences and avoidance of race/ethnic-based judgement) are important (p = 0.052, 0.028, respectively).DiscussionPatient-provider communication was especially important for Latinas ≥ 21 while using an SDM approach during counseling was highly valued by those<21. Patient-centered approaches to contraceptive counseling provide opportunities to optimize healthcare delivery for this vulnerable population.Practical valueResults from this research demonstrate that patient-centered communication is highly valued by Latina study participants and is an important consideration in their contraceptive counseling. Clinicians should consider employing techniques such as SDM as they seek to provide patient-centered care during contraceptive counseling for this patient population.     

Development and field testing of a decision support tool to facilitate shared decision making in contraceptive counseling

ObjectiveWe developed and formatively evaluated a tablet-based decision support tool for use by women prior to a contraceptive counseling visit to help them engage in shared decision making regarding method selection.MethodsDrawing upon formative work around women’s preferences for contraceptive counseling and conceptual understanding of health care decision making, we iteratively developed a storyboard and then digital prototypes, based on best practices for decision support tool development. Pilot testing using both quantitative and qualitative data and cognitive testing was conducted. We obtained feedback from patient and provider advisory groups throughout the development process.ResultsNinety-six percent of women who used the tool in pilot testing reported that it helped them choose a method, and qualitative interviews indicated acceptability of the tool’s content and presentation. Compared to the control group, women who used the tool demonstrated trends toward increased likelihood of complete satisfaction with their method. Participant responses to cognitive testing were used in tool refinement.ConclusionOur decision support tool appears acceptable to women in the family planning setting.Practice implicationsFormative evaluation of the tool supports its utility among patients making contraceptive decisions, which can be further evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.     

An evidence base for patient-centered cancer care: A meta-analysis of studies of observed communication between cancer specialists and their patients

Objective

In the context of patients visiting cancer specialists, the objective is to test the association between both patient-centered communication (including Affective Behavior and Participation Behavior) and Instrumental Behavior and patients’ post-visit satisfaction with a variety of visit phenomena.

Methods

Meta-analysis of 25 articles representing 10 distinct data sets.

Results

Both patient-centered- and instrumental behavior are significantly, positively associated with satisfaction, with patient-centered communication having a relatively stronger association.

Conclusion

There is an evidence base for the efficacy of patient-centered care.

Practice implications

Cancer specialists need to train to improve their patient-centered communication.     

The impact of shared decision making on time consumption and clinical decisions. A prospective cohort study

ObjectiveConcerns of increased time consumption and of the impact on clinical decisions may restrain doctors from shared decision making (SDM). This paper evaluates consultation length and decisions made when using an in-consult patient decision aid (PtDA).MethodsThis prospective cohort study compared an unexposed cohort with a cohort exposed to SDM and a PtDA in two preference-sensitive decision situations: invasive lung cancer diagnostics and adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer. Outcome measures were consultation length and decisions made.ResultsThe study included 261 consultations, 115 were in the SDM-exposed cohort. Consultations were inconsiderably longer in the SDM cohort; 2 min, 11 s (p = 0.2217) for lung cancer diagnostics and 3 min, 57 s (p = 0.1128) for adjuvant breast cancer treatment. In lung cancer diagnostics, consultation length became more uniform and decisions tended to become conservative after introduction of SDM. For adjuvant breast cancer, slightly more patients in the SDM cohort chose to decline treatment.ConclusionShared decision making did not take significantly longer time and led to slightly more conservative decisions.Practice implicationsSDM may be implemented without considerable impact on consultation length. The impact on clinical decisions depends mainly on the clinical situation.     

The possible impact of vulnerability on clinical communication: Some reflections and a call for empirical studies

Objective

To direct attention to the concept of vulnerability, how it affects interactions in subtle ways and is difficult to detect in studies of clinical dialogues.