The medical encounter with the physician elicited a range of negative experiences and clear expectations from the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Authors
Tejal Lathia, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Mahati Chittem, Department of Liberal Arts, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Shweta Chawak, Assistant Professor, Jindal School of Psychology and Counselling, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Praneeta Katdare, Department of Liberal Arts, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Shreya Jayaram, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Chitra Selvan, Department of Endocrinology, Ramaiah Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Summary
This pilot study aimed to: (a) understand the experiences of Indian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their expectations of their physicians during a medical consultation, (b) serve as a preliminary study to inform the development of a larger project exploring and improving patients’ communication experiences, and (c) assess whether the pilot study findings indicate the viability of using the Relationship: Establishment, Development, and Engagement model of communication as the conceptual framework for the larger project.
Methods
Using convenience sampling, 11 patients participated in a focus group discussion. Conventional content analysis was used.
Results
Two themes were generated: (a) A plethora of negative feelings: experiences of the physician’s verbal and nonverbal communication styles, and (b) ‘I know what I want’: Expectations of communication by patients from their physician.
Conclusions
The medical encounter with the physician elicited a range of negative experiences and clear expectations from the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This pilot points to the need for (a) a mixed methods approach to comprehensively examine the communication needs of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from their physician, (b) understand physicians’ communication practices, and (c) using these findings, culturally adapt and test the Relationship: Establishment, Development, and Engagement to improve physicians’ communication skills in India.
Published in: Chronic Illness
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