This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

trusted source

proofread

Allowing patients with disabilities to describe their own clinical experiences can improve doctor communications

patient
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers looking to better understand patient experiences are turning to patient-guided tours (PGT) of health facilities, an approach drawn from the experience-based design literature. However, little research has assessed how patients with disabilities perceive the approach.

In this , 18 were asked to walk through the clinic as they would on a typical visit while describing their experiences. Patients' experiences and perceptions of the tours were audiotaped and transcribed. Additionally, investigators took field notes and completed thematic content analyses.

Their findings support the value of PGT methodology in understanding the experiences of patients with disabilities in the clinic setting. Patients reported that walking through the facility elicited experiences that participants said they would not have recalled using other research methods. They also reported feeling empowered when leading investigators through the clinic space and guiding researchers to "see through their eyes." Patient-guided tours encouraged patients to be , which increased their comfort levels and sense of collaboration with the medical team. However, patient-guided tours may exclude patients who have severe disabilities.

What we know:

Researchers striving to improve patient experiences are moving away from the traditional measurements of patient satisfaction (such as surveys or focus groups) to newer strategies. Exploring patient experiences can lead to better patient-provider communication and promote a more collaborative health care approach. Implementing a patient-centered approach, however, requires system-level changes and shared decision making.

What this study adds:

Through the use of patient-guided tours, researchers gained a greater understanding of the experiences of patients with disabilities in the clinic setting and showed that these tours are a to measure in-clinic experiences by patients with disabilities.

The study is published in The Annals of Family Medicine journal.

More information: Sakina Walji et al, Patient-Guided Tours: A Patient-Centered Methodology to Understand Patient Experiences of Health Care, The Annals of Family Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1370/afm.2971

Journal information: Annals of Family Medicine
Citation: Allowing patients with disabilities to describe their own clinical experiences can improve doctor communications (2023, May 23) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-patients-disabilities-clinical-doctor-communications.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Most patients like having access to dermatology clinic notes

 shares

Feedback to editors