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How is test-related information communicated in Australian Emergency Departments? - ED clinicians' and patients'
Maria R Dahm1, Julie Li2, Judith Thomas2
1Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Level 6, 75 Talavera Rd, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia; Institute for Communication in Health Care (ICH), College of Arts and Social Science, Australian National University, 110 Ellery Crescent, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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.
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