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Communication Issues (communication + issues)
Selected AbstractsA fuzzy preference-ranking model for a quality evaluation of hospital web sitesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 11 2006R. Ufuk Bilsel This article presents a quality evaluation model for measuring the performance of hospital Web sites. The model is developed on the basis of a conceptual framework, which consists of seven major e-service quality dimensions, including tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, confidence, empathy, quality of information, and integration of communication issues of Web sites. The dimensions and their associated attributes are first obtained from published articles in the health care and information technology literature and then adapted according to the suggestions of related domain experts. Two multicriteria decision-making methods are used in the evaluation procedure. Determined Web site evaluation dimensions and their relevant attributes are weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Vagueness in some stages of the evaluation required the incorporation of fuzzy numbers in the assessment process. Both fuzzy and crisp data are then synthesized using the fuzzy PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation) ranking method. The model is applied initially to measure the performance of the Web sites of Turkish hospitals. This study should be of interest to health care and technology practitioners and researchers, as the findings shed light on the further development of performance measurements for hospital Web sites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 21: 1181,1197, 2006. [source] The communication challenges faced in adopting a palliative care approach in advanced dementiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2009Amanda Johnson RN DipT(Ng) MHScEd This paper discusses one aspect from the findings of an Australian study aimed at understanding the needs of people with advanced dementia. Specifically, this paper focuses on the communication issues that might potentially inhibit the implementation of a palliative care approach for a person with advanced dementia in a residential aged care facility (RACF). Six focus groups consisting of 34 participants and 24 semistructured interviews were conducted. Participants were drawn from palliative care specialty staff, palliative care volunteers, designated aged or dementia specialist staff from an area health service, general practitioners, RACF staff and family carers. The findings show communication issues identified by the participants were a significant factor impacting on their capacity to adopt a palliative care approach in caring for people with advanced dementia. The findings support the need for education, skill development and networking to occur among the key providers of care in RACFs to ensure the provision of ,best practice' palliative care to residents with advanced dementia and their families. [source] A Study of Midlife Women's Reasons for Changing Healthcare ProvidersJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 11 2005FACNM, Holly Powell Kennedy CNM Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons midlife women report for changing healthcare providers and to determine if there were any differences in reasons given for the change based on gender or ethnicity. Data sources This was an analysis of data collected from a healthy community-based sample of midlife women as part of a longitudinal 5-year study of changes in health outcomes during transition to menopause. Women were queried about their experience in changing healthcare providers. Conclusions Over 42% indicated that they had changed health providers because of dissatisfaction with care. The component accounting for the majority of the variance was related to communication issues. There were no significant differences across ethnic groups in decision to change providers or in reasons for their dissatisfaction with care. However, their reports of experiencing racism in the healthcare system were troubling. Implications for practice The ability of the provider to communicate with women may have implications in women's choices in health care later in life. [source] A qualitative study examining tensions in interdoctor telephone consultationsMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 8 2006Anupma Wadhwa Objective, Communication skills have gained increasing attention in medical education. Much of the existing literature and medical curricula addresses issues of doctor,patient communication. The critical importance of communication between health professionals, however, is now coming under the spotlight. The interdoctor telephone consultation is a common health care setting in which health professional communication skills are exercised. Breakdowns in this communication commonly occur and, surprisingly, this skill is not formally addressed in medical training. This study sought to clarify the communication issues that can occur during interdoctor telephone consultations in order to inform future educational initiatives in this domain. Methods, Data were collected and triangulated among 3 sources: documentation of 129 telephone consults received; 51 hours of field observations of consultants, and semi-structured interviews of 12 callers and 12 consultants. Analysis was performed using grounded theory methodology. Results, Overwhelmingly, participants described tensions with telephone consultation communication. Recurrent theme analysis revealed 5 key sources of tension: discursive features; context; fragmented clinical process; reason for call, and responsibility. Often, callers and consultants viewed similar instances in different and opposite manners, contributing to difficulties in the exchange. Further, a vicious cycle in which a participant's strategies to mitigate tension actually increased tension for the other participant was identified. Conclusions, Interdoctor telephone consultation has become an integral part of medical practice; however, tensions within this exchange can undermine its effectiveness. The results of this study provide a preliminary theory upon which an educational intervention to improve this communication skill can be based. [source] A pre-employment programme for overseas-trained doctors entering the Australian workforce, 1997,99MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 7 2002Elizabeth A Sullivan Objectives Overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) have limited access and formal interaction with the Australian health care system prior to joining the Australian medical workforce. A pre-employment programme was designed to familiarize OTDs with the Australian health care system. Method All OTDs who had passed their Australian Medical Council (AMC) exams and were applying for a pre-registration year in New South Wales were invited to participate in the voluntary, free programme. A 4-week full-time programme was developed consisting of core group teaching and a hospital attachment. The curriculum included communication, health and workplace skills; and sessions on culture shock and the role of junior doctors. A pilot programme was run in 1997. The programme was repeated in 1998 and 1999. The OTDs' confidence regarding the general duties of internship, and attitudes towards hospital workplace skills were examined. Results The 66 OTDs reported greater understanding of staff and communication issues and familiarization with the hospital environment. They reported a more realistic understanding of the role of a junior doctor, the need for separation of workplace and personal responsibilities and knowledge of pathways for future professional development. The course structure, with a focus on hospital attachments, establishment of a peer network, and workplace familiarization facilitated entry into the hospital workforce. Conclusion The pre-employment programme enabled the OTDs to have a more equitable entry into the public hospital system, resulting in a more integrated, confident and functional workforce. [source] Cost drivers of public hospital occupational therapy outpatient careAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2001Karen Grimmer This study examined the associations between various patient-related, demographic and episode-based factors, and the length of time associated with completed episodes of outpatient (ambulatory) occupational therapy care. Data were provided over a 10-month period by eight public hospitals in three Australian states. An episode described occupational therapy outpatient management for one patient with one condition, and consisted of start and finish dates, and all the occasions of service in between. The median value of the total patient-attributable time of an occupational therapy episode of care was 70 min. Factors that were strongly associated with long occupational therapy episodes were age, communication issues and hospital location (metropolitan or country). This study provides the basis for future investigations into the costs of providing ,best practice' occupational therapy outpatient services. [source] | ||||||||||