Occupation and communication programs for post-coma persons with or without consciousness disorders who show extensive motor impairment and lack of speech

These two studies were aimed at extending the assessment of technology-aided programs for post-coma persons with extensive motor impairment and lack of speech. Specifically, Study I assessed a new program arrangement, in which stimulation access and caregiver attention could be obtained with variations of the same response (i.e., single- versus double-hand closure) by three participants who were diagnosed at the upper level of the minimally conscious state at the start of the study. Study II was aimed at enabling two persons who had emerged from a minimally conscious state to engage in leisure activities, listen to audio-recordings of family members, and send and receive messages. The responses selected for these participants were hand pressure and eyelid closure, respectively. The results of both studies were positive. The participants of Study I increased their responding to increase their stimulation input and caregiver interaction. The participants of Study II managed to successfully select all the options the program included (i.e., the leisure options, as well as the family and communication options). General implications of the programs and the related technology packages for intervention with post-coma persons with multiple disabilities are discussed.     

Unidentified communication challenges in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study using multiple triangulations

BackgroundCommunication in the intensive care unit is challenged by patients’ inability to speak owing to intubation, treatment, and illness. Research has focused on the use of communication tools or techniques, characteristics of the communication between patients and clinicians, and their experiences of communication challenges. However, few studies have combined the perspectives of patients, family members, and clinicians. We explored communication from different angles and investigated challenges that cannot be explained by ineffective use of aids and communication techniques.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore communication between patients, family members, and nurses and to investigate previously unidentified communication challenges.MethodsThis study used a case-oriented design with multiple triangulations. It was conducted in two general intensive care units at a Norwegian university hospital. Participant observations were conducted on nine mechanically ventilated patients while communicating with family members and healthcare personnel. Following the observations, individual interviews were conducted with six patients, six family members, and nine healthcare personnel.FindingsCommunication often seemed uncomplicated at the time of observations, but information from the interviews revealed another picture. We demonstrate what participants emphasised differently when they discussed their experiences, revealing a discrepancy in perceived importance in the situation. Family members had an important role in interpreting signs from the patient, uncovering challenges that would have been unknown to the nurses otherwise.ConclusionsThis study illustrates how communication challenges in the intensive care unit may not be perceptible to an observer or to all of the participants involved at the time of the communication. Nurses need to be aware of these communication challenges and realise that the patient might face issues that cannot be easily solved without extensive involvement of the patient, family, and nurses, and perhaps not even until a later stage in the patient's recovery process.     

Moving on the spectrum: Dance/movement therapy as a potential early intervention tool for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The rising number of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses, in addition to the ability to recognize the disorder early, has led to much interest in early intervention tools. This theoretical work examines how dance/movement therapy (DMT) might be applied to address the early developmental connections between social and communication challenges and early motor maturation in young children diagnosed with ASDs. As a foundation for this discussion, literature pertaining to the early relationship of motor challenges and social/communication deficits is reviewed. A theoretical framework is proposed that promotes the integration and early development of these two realms based on DMT interventions and principles in children at high risk for or diagnosed with an ASD.     

Practicing “Reflective listening” is a mandatory prerequisite for empathy

We must humbly acknowledge that the healthcare system is less and less about empathy despite interacting with patients is a prerequisite for care: shared decision making is the cornerstone for compliance to treatment and therefore its -effectiveness. Empathy is not about tricks, it is about “client-centred therapy” a term coined by Carl Rogers. The key is “reflective listening”. Simply summarize what the patient said by using his own words rather than paraphrasing and without digressing to other subjects. This reinforces patients’ own expressions of problems, recognition of concerns, complaints and, values and reveals potential misunderstanding of patient’s concerns. New technologies can help to understand patient’s experiences as a program for professionals caring for inflammatory bowel diseases: they receive on their a smartphone daily recurring messages such as “You have ten minutes to go to the toilet” and must send a photo of a lavatory door within few minutes.     

Incorporating shared decision making into communication with older adults with cancer and their caregivers: Development and evaluation of a geriatric shared decision-making communication skills training module

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a Communication Skills Training (CST) module for health care providers (HCPs) applying a shared decision-making approach to a meeting with an older adult with cancer and his/her family.MethodsNinety-nine HCPs from community-based centers, cancer centers, and hospitals in the Northeastern U.S. who worked primarily with older adult patients participated in a CST module entitled Geriatric Shared Decision Making. Participants completed pre- and post-training Standardized Patient Assessments (SPAs) and a survey on their confidence in and intent to utilize skills taught.ResultsResults indicated high HCP satisfaction with the module, with over 95 % of participants reporting high endorsement to all five evaluation items. HCPs’ self-efficacy in utilizing communication skills related to geriatric shared decision making significantly increased pre- to post-training. In standardized patient assessments among a subset of providers (n = 30), HCPs demonstrated improvements in three shared decision-making skills: declare agenda, invite agenda, and check preference.ConclusionA geriatric shared decision-making CST workshop for HCPs showed feasibility, acceptability, and improvement in self-efficacy as well as skill uptake.Practice implicationsThis Geriatric Shared Decision-Making CST module provides an intervention for improving provider-patient-family member communication in the context of cancer care for older adults.     

Intérêts de la psychothérapie à médiation sensorielle dans le cadre de la prise en charge des troubles de la relation et de la communication chez des enfants autistes sévèrement déficitaires II : illustration clinique

Background

Sensory and emotional disorders are typical in autism spectrum and were analyzed by psychological, neuropsychological and psychodynamic models of interpretation. Our theoretical analysis revealed that sensory-based solicitation of the autistic patients with intellectual disabilities could allow the revival of the intersubjectivity development. Therefore, the emergence of a relational and communicative dynamic. We conceptualized an approach of psychotherapy with sensory mediation intended to formulate therapeutic proposals for remediation of relationship and communication disorders.

Objectives

In this study, we aim: to present our care devices and method and their application within the framework of a developmental, clinical and experimental research program; to report the main results obtained with five patients as a clinical illustration.

Method

During 18 months, we exposed five patients to individual weekly sessions of psychotherapy with sensory mediation. Our experimental group, constituted of three children presenting severe intellectual disability associated with autistic disorders. It was compared to a control group with two children showing the similar level of intellectual deficiency but without autistic disorders. Quantitative (i.e. statistical) and qualitative analyses of the therapeutic effects were performed in the following domains: sensory integration, social interaction, communication, stereotypies, “positive” behaviors and “negative” behaviors.

Results

The specificity of the sensory profile of children with autistic disorders was shown. Moreover, we calculated a Sensory Integration Index allowing observation of the improvement of the autistic children's sensory integration capacity along the continuous care. Both groups increased significantly their investment of the plurimodal stimulations (i.e. associated proximal and distal stimulations). In parallel, the psychotherapy sessions allowed an increased level of social interaction and communicative skills for both groups. Furthermore, the number of stereotypies decreased for the autistic children in the course of care.     

基于职业感知的低年资护士同理心训练效果研究

目的探讨基于职业感知的同理心训练对低年资护士临床沟通能力、职业获益感和自我效能感的影响。方法采用类实验研究方法,于2018年3—9月,以自愿报名的方式招募河南省肿瘤医院自我效能低下的67名低年资护士作为研究对象,将其分为5组,每组12~15名,分别进行5周共5次面对面的以职业感知为主要内容的同理心训练。采用护士临床沟通能力量表、护士职业获益感量表和一般自我效能感量表于训练前和训练后评价干预效果。采用SPSS 22.0软件进行统计分析。结果训练过程中3名护士退出,最终64名护士完成训练。训练后,64名护士的临床沟通能力总均分为(3.75±0.66)分,职业获益感总均分为(4.65±0.40)分,一般自我效能感总均分为(2.53±0.20)分,均高于训练前,差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为5.058、7.911、25.979;P<0.01)。结论基于职业感知的同理心训练能够提高低年资护士的临床沟通能力,提升其职业获益感水平和自我效能,该干预方案或可进一步在护士人群中得到拓展和应用。     

护士情绪智力和沟通满意度对共情影响的路径分析

目的 探讨护士情绪智力、沟通满意度对共情的影响路径和关系效应.方法 2019年9月—12月,采用一般资料问卷、Jefferson共情量表、 情绪智力量表及人际沟通满意度量表对河南省某三级甲等医院的1475名护士进行调查,采用AMOS 21.0软件建立模型并进行路径分析.结果 护士沟通满意度与共情呈正相关(r=0.519...     

桌面虚拟化技术在影像存储与传输系统中的应用

以湘雅常德医院为例,阐述桌面虚拟化技术的内涵及原理,分析该技术在影像存储与传输系统调取图像以及安全与维护方面的优势,指出其应用能够提高影像调阅速度与医生工作效率,同时为系统工程师维护带来便利。