Effective Communication can Overcome Misconceptions of Recovery from Illness

Transition of care or quality of continuity of care among patients and their family members were studied by a research team at Aventura Hospital Medical Center, Florida. The study mainly discussed the families’ perception, knowledge, and psychological stress during the transition. The study was published in the journal Chest. From April 2016 to March 2017, researchers conducted a quality improvement project in long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities in South Florida. Family members of individuals transferred to an LTAC were given a 15-item questionnaire to complete. Patients were asked to recall their experiences prior to ICU hospitalisation. Of the 50 patients who participated, 44 returned a questionnaire, and results varied significantly.

As it pertains to recovery, 25% expected their family member to completely recover, 73% expected recovery with disabilities, and 2.2% expected no recovery. Additional responses showed that knowledge of care was very limited in patients’ family members--66% of participants did not report a satisfactory level of knowledge, equipment, or medical services their family member required.

"Perception of patients’ prognosis, disposition, and length-of-stay varies significantly among patients’ families. Perception diversity could precipitate families’ emotional distress and challenge effective communication," says Dr. Lee, lead researcher, "establishing optimal channels of communication to overcome barriers and empower patients’ family members could improve the quality of transitions of care in the intensive care setting."

Source-Eurekalert