A method to assess the organizing behaviors used in physicians' counseling of standardized parents after newborn genetic screening. Commun Med 2012;9(2):101-11
Date
01/01/2012Pubmed ID
24498695Pubmed Central ID
PMC3916961DOI
10.1558/cam.v9i2.101Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84878515508 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 3 CitationsAbstract
Well-organized conversation can improve people's ability to comprehend and retain information. As part of a long-term effort to adapt Quality Improvement techniques for communication, we developed an explicit-criteria method to assess usage of three organizing behaviors (OBs): 'opening behaviors' to establish goals; 'structuring behaviors' to guide patients through conversation; and 'emphasizing behaviors' that signal a need for attention. Pairs of abstractors independently reviewed transcripts in a demonstration sample of conversations between physicians and standardized parents after newborn screening identifies carrier status for sickle cell disease. Criteria for at least one OB were identified in 50/84 transcripts (60%), including 27 with at least one opening behavior (32%), 5 with at least one structuring behavior (6%), and 38 with at least one emphasizing behavior (45%). The limited number of OBs raises concern about communication after newborn screening. Assessment and improvement of OB usage may improve understanding and allow parents to more actively participate in health care.
Author List
Christopher SA, Ahmad NY, Bradford L, Collins JL, Eskra K, Kirschner Al, O'Tool FO, Roedl SJ, Farrell MHAuthor
Lisa Bradford PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAnemia, Sickle Cell
Behavior
Communication
Counseling
Female
Genetic Testing
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Neonatal Screening
Parents
Patient Simulation
Physician-Patient Relations
Physicians
