Can We All Speak the Same ‘Language’ for Our Patients’ Sake? Feedback on Interprofessional Communication and Related Resources

Abstract

Background The Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) established a working group to develop the AIMA Guiding Principles for Letter Writing and Letter Writing Templates. The guiding principles were developed to promote effective communication between the diverse range of healthcare practitioners (HCPs) that patients choose to consult. Following the development of the Interprofessional Communication (IPC) resources, AIMA undertook a public consultation as part of a quality assurance process to evaluate the relevance and utility of the resource. Aim This study reports stakeholder feedback on AIMA’s draft guiding principles document. It explores stakeholder attitudes towards IPC and HCPs letter-writing, and interest in ongoing continuing professional development (CPD). Methods A cross-sectional survey involving 1) an online public consultation survey and 2) a paper survey collected following IPC CPD activities. Quantitative data were analysed using Chi square and Fisher-Freeman-Halton Test. Responses to open ended questions were coded and subject to a thematic analysis. Results The 64 survey participants and 55 CPD participants represented the Australian healthcare sectors and lay community. Most thought IPC is important (n = 112/117; 96%) and the resources were informative (n = 112/119; 94%), understandable (n = 111/119; 93%), and clinically relevant (n = 105/117; 90%). HCP reported wide variations in their frequency of correspondence with other practitioner types, with rates often concerningly low. Key IPC themes identified were the importance of continuity of care, clarity of communication, and professional practice. CPD participants were most interested in further IPC training (p = 0.001). Conclusions The IPC resources affirm the role of formal communication pathways, such as letters of correspondence to support coordinated, patient-centred and multidisciplinary care. Challenges with letter writing and IPC signal the need for more student and professional education on the subject to promote continuity of patient care and the delivery of high quality, integrative medicine and health care services.

Patient Satisfaction Determinants of Inpatient Healthcare

“…This factor was formed from the patient’s trust in the physician, from the patient’s trust in the nurse, from a sufficient number of nurses providing care for the patient, as well as from communication between the physician and the nurses in front of the patient. These findings fully correlate with the findings in the research studies of Zhang et al [ 56 ], Newell and Jordan [ 57 ], Nguyen et al [ 58 ] and others. Ismail and Omar [ 59 ] dealt with the communication aspects between the patient and the healthcare professional in more depth, noting the importance of examining the suitability of the individual communication styles affecting patients’ satisfaction and their preference over other factors.…”

“…= 153; p -value = 0.000) exhibited the p < 0.05. This indicates that the correlation between the items was significant, and it was statistically significant at the five-per cent level of statistical significance (e.g., [ 58 ]). The results of commonalities were as follows: MVs—Initial = 1.000; Extraction (PCA) = values were higher than 0.500 (by all MVs).…”

Interprofessional Communication—A Call for More Education to Ensure Cultural Competency in the Context of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine

“…TCIM practitioners are also calling for more support and training in interprofessional communication. In response, the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) established a working group who developed the ‘Interprofessional Communication AIMA Guiding Principles for Letter Writing.’ 4 , 14 The aim was to develop a written resource to support communication between the diverse range of healthcare practitioners that are often involved in a person’s care. The resource includes background information about TCIM and medicolegal considerations within the context of the Australian healthcare system, the principles of interprofessional collaboration and patient-centre communication, and instructions for how to write formal letters of correspondence along with a set of five letter writing templates to assist practitioners with introductions, red-flags, referrals and replies and thanking their colleagues for collaborating.…”

Proposal for a shared definition of « primary healthcare » by health professionals: A national cross-sectional survey

“…Interprofessional collaboration is essential to provide efficient and quality patient care [16,17]. In order to develop the collaboration between health care actors, they have to "speak the same language" [18].…”