Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers
Abstract Background Little is known about communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers regarding ethical concerns that patients and families experience in the course of illness and medical care. To address this gap in the literature, we surveyed patients and family members to l...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Ethics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00932-x |
| _version_ | 1797769368455610368 |
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| author | Mariam Noorulhuda Christine Grady Paul Wakim Talia Bernhard Hae Lin Cho Marion Danis |
| author_facet | Mariam Noorulhuda Christine Grady Paul Wakim Talia Bernhard Hae Lin Cho Marion Danis |
| author_sort | Mariam Noorulhuda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Little is known about communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers regarding ethical concerns that patients and families experience in the course of illness and medical care. To address this gap in the literature, we surveyed patients and family members to learn about their ethical concerns and the extent to which they discussed them with their healthcare providers. Methods We surveyed adult, English-speaking patients and family members receiving inpatient care in five hospitals in the Washington DC-Baltimore metropolitan area from July 2017 to March 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency, comfortableness, and helpfulness of discussions regarding ethical concerns experienced when sick or receiving medical care. Univariable and multivariable stepwise logistic regression models were used to identify associations between healthcare provider and respondent characteristics and attitudes and (1) the likelihood of speaking to a healthcare provider about their ethical concern and (2) their level of comfort during these discussions. Results Of 468 respondents who experienced ethical issues, 299 (64%) reported discussing the situation with a member of their healthcare team; 74% (197/265) of respondents who had such a discussion found the discussion comfortable, and 77% (176/230) of respondents found the discussion helpful. To make discussions more comfortable and helpful, respondents proposed suggestions in open-ended responses involving (1) content and quality of communication; (2) positive healthcare provider qualities such as empathy, open-mindedness, knowledge, honesty, and trustworthiness; and (3) other contextual factors including having adequate time and available resources. Conclusions Patients and families often have ethical concerns that they discuss with clinicians, and they want clinicians to be routinely receptive and attentive to such discussions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:06:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ec517f974e94d469b90ed7070cbbdc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:06:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ec517f974e94d469b90ed7070cbbdc32023-07-30T11:24:18ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392023-07-012411910.1186/s12910-023-00932-xCommunication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providersMariam Noorulhuda0Christine Grady1Paul Wakim2Talia Bernhard3Hae Lin Cho4Marion Danis5National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterNational Institutes of Health Clinical CenterNational Institutes of Health Clinical CenterThomas Jefferson UniversityHarvard Medical SchoolNational Institutes of Health Clinical CenterAbstract Background Little is known about communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers regarding ethical concerns that patients and families experience in the course of illness and medical care. To address this gap in the literature, we surveyed patients and family members to learn about their ethical concerns and the extent to which they discussed them with their healthcare providers. Methods We surveyed adult, English-speaking patients and family members receiving inpatient care in five hospitals in the Washington DC-Baltimore metropolitan area from July 2017 to March 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency, comfortableness, and helpfulness of discussions regarding ethical concerns experienced when sick or receiving medical care. Univariable and multivariable stepwise logistic regression models were used to identify associations between healthcare provider and respondent characteristics and attitudes and (1) the likelihood of speaking to a healthcare provider about their ethical concern and (2) their level of comfort during these discussions. Results Of 468 respondents who experienced ethical issues, 299 (64%) reported discussing the situation with a member of their healthcare team; 74% (197/265) of respondents who had such a discussion found the discussion comfortable, and 77% (176/230) of respondents found the discussion helpful. To make discussions more comfortable and helpful, respondents proposed suggestions in open-ended responses involving (1) content and quality of communication; (2) positive healthcare provider qualities such as empathy, open-mindedness, knowledge, honesty, and trustworthiness; and (3) other contextual factors including having adequate time and available resources. Conclusions Patients and families often have ethical concerns that they discuss with clinicians, and they want clinicians to be routinely receptive and attentive to such discussions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00932-xClinical ethicsCommunicationProfessional-patient relationsFamily membersSurveys and questionnaires |
| spellingShingle | Mariam Noorulhuda Christine Grady Paul Wakim Talia Bernhard Hae Lin Cho Marion Danis Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers BMC Medical Ethics Clinical ethics Communication Professional-patient relations Family members Surveys and questionnaires |
| title | Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers |
| title_full | Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers |
| title_fullStr | Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers |
| title_short | Communication of patients’ and family members’ ethical concerns to their healthcare providers |
| title_sort | communication of patients and family members ethical concerns to their healthcare providers |
| topic | Clinical ethics Communication Professional-patient relations Family members Surveys and questionnaires |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00932-x |
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