Communication with families facing life-threatening illness: a research-based model for family conferences

Communication is an ongoing challenge for clinicians working with people facing life-threatening illnesses and end of life. Family conferences offer patient-focused, family-oriented care that brings together patients, family members, and health care providers.

The aim of this study was to develop a research-based model for family conferences to help physicians and other health care providers conduct such conferences effectively and improve communication with patients and families.

We prospectively studied family conferences for patients facing life-threatening illness in two inpatient medical centers. We videotape and audiotape recorded real-life conferences and postconference interviews with participants.

Twenty-four family conferences were included in the study. Participants consisted of 24 patients, 10 of whom took part in the family conferences, 49 family members, and 85 health care providers.

A multidisciplinary team conducted a qualitative analysis of the videotaped and audiotaped materials using thematic analysis. The team used a multistage approach to independently and collectively analyze and integrate three data sources.

The resulting theoretical model for family conferences has 4 main components. These include the underlying structural context of conference organization and the key process components of negotiation and personal stance. Emotional engagement by health care providers, emotion work, appears central to the impact of these components on the successful outcome of the conference. In addition to the theoretical model, the authors found that family conference participants place specific value on the "simultaneous presence" of conference attendees that leads to being on the "same page."

Physicians and other health care professionals can use the model as a guide for conducting family conferences and strengthening communication with patients, families and colleagues.