Janni P. Fallesen(1), Lisbeth R. Minet(2), Mette Maria Skjøth(3), Torben Knudsen(4), Jens Kjeldsen(5)

Affiliates

(1) Odense University Hospital, Department of Medical Gastroenterology S, University College Lillebaelt, Department of Nursing Odense, University of Southern Denmark, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Research, (2) Odense University Hospital, Department of Geriatrics, University of Southern Denmark, Department of Clinical research (3) Odense University Hospital, Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre I (4) Hospital of South West Jutland Esbjerg, Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Department of Regional Health Research University of Southern Denmark (5). Odense University Hospital, Department of Medical Gastroenterology, S., Research Unit of Medical Gastroenterology.

Abstract

Background
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is incurable and, for most patients, lifelong treatment and regular follow-up is required. For that reason, the patients will have an ongoing relationship with health care professionals. Recent studies indicate that the encounter and communication with healthcare professionals is crucial to the patient’s possibilities for self-care-management. However, knowledge on patient communication with health professionals is scarce. Hence, it is important to explore what matters to patients in the communication with healthcare professionals.
Methods
A phenomenological hermeneutic approach based on qualitative methods was applied to obtain an understanding of the patients’ perceived needs in communication with healthcare professionals. Observational studies and focus group interviews with 14 outpatients were conducted. Participants were recruited from two outpatient clinics at the Departments of Medical Gastroenterology at Odense University Hospital and Hospital South West Jutland in Esbjerg. The analysis is based on, condensation of meaning. The tool consists of five steps that implies the researcher to give, the opinions expressed by the informant, a shorter formulation. It summarizes long statements and reword the main meaning in few words. Afterwards, the informants’ statements were exposed to a critical commonsense and theoretical interpretation with the aim of a broader understanding.
Findings
Fourteen outpatients with IBD, including 6 men and 8 women age range from 18-65, participated in three focus group interviews. The analysis generated four themes of perceived needs in communication with healthcare professionals: (1) Access to healthcare professionals when needed (2) shared plan for agreed contacts (3) Need for presence in contact (4) Dialogue regarding the level of privacy in contacts.
Conclusion
This study indicates, that what matters to patients in the communication with healthcare professionals is access to healthcare professionals when needed. A shared plan for agreed contacts is also perceived as important. Moreover, they need to be met with presence and dialogue regarding the level of privacy in the contacts.