Does the delivery of diagnostic news affect the likelihood of whether or not patients ask questions about the results? A conversation analytical study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Murtagh, GM
Furber, Lynn
Thomas, Anne
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background:
Asymmetries in knowledge and competence in the medical encounter often mean that doctor-
patient communication can be compromised. This paper
explores this issue and
examines
whether the likelihood of patient question asking is increased following the delivery of
diagnostic test results. It also examines if that likelihood is related to the way in which the
test results are delivered. Objective:
To examine when and how patients initiate questions following diagnostic news
announcements. Methods:
We audio recorded oncology consultations (n=47) consisting of both first consultations and
follow up consultations with patients with different types of cancer, at a leading UK teaching
hospital. From the primary sample, we identified 30 consultations based on a basic count of
the frequency of patient questions and their positioning in relation to diagnostic
announcements. This subset of 30 consultations consisted of a mix of first and follow up
consultations.
Results:
Our data demonstrates how the design and delivery of diagnostic news announcements can
either discourage or provide the opportunity for a patient initiated question in the next turn of
talk. We identified two types of announcement. Q+ generally provided for a patient initiated
question as a relevant next turn following the news announcement, whereas Q- did not. Q+
was sometimes followed up with the explanation of test results which appeared to encourage
further patient questions.
Conclusion:
The design and delivery of diagnostic news announcements can make a patient-initiated
question more or less appropriate, in the next turn of talk. In addition, showing and
explaining test results can encourage further opportunities for patients’ questions.
Asymmetries in knowledge and competence in the medical encounter often mean that doctor-
patient communication can be compromised. This paper
explores this issue and
examines
whether the likelihood of patient question asking is increased following the delivery of
diagnostic test results. It also examines if that likelihood is related to the way in which the
test results are delivered. Objective:
To examine when and how patients initiate questions following diagnostic news
announcements. Methods:
We audio recorded oncology consultations (n=47) consisting of both first consultations and
follow up consultations with patients with different types of cancer, at a leading UK teaching
hospital. From the primary sample, we identified 30 consultations based on a basic count of
the frequency of patient questions and their positioning in relation to diagnostic
announcements. This subset of 30 consultations consisted of a mix of first and follow up
consultations.
Results:
Our data demonstrates how the design and delivery of diagnostic news announcements can
either discourage or provide the opportunity for a patient initiated question in the next turn of
talk. We identified two types of announcement. Q+ generally provided for a patient initiated
question as a relevant next turn following the news announcement, whereas Q- did not. Q+
was sometimes followed up with the explanation of test results which appeared to encourage
further patient questions.
Conclusion:
The design and delivery of diagnostic news announcements can make a patient-initiated
question more or less appropriate, in the next turn of talk. In addition, showing and
explaining test results can encourage further opportunities for patients’ questions.
Date Issued
2018-12
Date Acceptance
2018-03-15
Citation
Health Expectations, 2018, 21 (6), pp.1002-1012
ISSN
1369-6513
Publisher
Wiley Open Access
Start Page
1002
End Page
1012
Journal / Book Title
Health Expectations
Volume
21
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Subjects
conversation analysis
diagnostic news announcements
oncology
patient question asking
1117 Public Health And Health Services
1110 Nursing
1701 Psychology
Public Health
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-05-03