Kimberly A Fisher1, Kara Kennedy2, Sarah Bloomstone3, Mayuko Ito Fukunaga4, Sigall K Bell5, Kathleen M Mazor6. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA; Meyers Primary Care Institute, A Joint Endeavor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Reliant Medical Group and Fallon Health, Worcester, USA. Electronic address: Kimberly.Fisher@umassmemorial.org. 2. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA. Electronic address: Kara.Kennedy@umassmed.edu. 3. Meyers Primary Care Institute, A Joint Endeavor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Reliant Medical Group and Fallon Health, Worcester, USA. Electronic address: sarah.bloomstone@umassmed.edu. 4. Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA; Meyers Primary Care Institute, A Joint Endeavor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Reliant Medical Group and Fallon Health, Worcester, USA; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA. Electronic address: Mayuko.ItoFukunaga@umassmed.edu. 5. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA. Electronic address: sbell1@bidmc.harvard.edu. 6. Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA; Meyers Primary Care Institute, A Joint Endeavor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Reliant Medical Group and Fallon Health, Worcester, USA. Electronic address: Kathleen.mazor@umassmed.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To understand the impact of sharing clinic notes on communication and self-management among patients with COPD and to develop recommendations for writing patient-centered notes. METHODS: Thirty patients with COPD participated in 'think-aloud' interviews in which they reviewed their COPD-specific clinic note. Interviews were coded using conventional content analysis, organized by the six-function communication framework. RESULTS: Participants were predominantly White (93.3%), with a mean age of 65.5 years. More than half had a high school degree or less, half reported difficulty understanding spoken information, and nearly half sometimes need help reading medical materials. Patients indicated notes provided an opportunity to learn details of their condition and facilitated information sharing - strengthening information exchange. Reading notes enabled self-management through motivation, prompting information seeking, and reminding them of action steps. Patients reacted positively to statements suggesting the provider listened to them, saw them as a person, and was attentive to details, which fostered the relationship. Most patients reacted negatively to medical terminology, incorrect information, and wording that was perceived as disparaging. CONCLUSIONS: Sharing clinic notes with patients can promote information exchange, enable self-management, and strengthen the patient-provider relationship. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Incorporating patients' recommendations for writing notes could strengthen the benefits of sharing notes.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the impact of sharing clinic notes on communication and self-management among patients with COPD and to develop recommendations for writing patient-centered notes. METHODS: Thirty patients with COPD participated in 'think-aloud' interviews in which they reviewed their COPD-specific clinic note. Interviews were coded using conventional content analysis, organized by the six-function communication framework. RESULTS: Participants were predominantly White (93.3%), with a mean age of 65.5 years. More than half had a high school degree or less, half reported difficulty understanding spoken information, and nearly half sometimes need help reading medical materials. Patients indicated notes provided an opportunity to learn details of their condition and facilitated information sharing - strengthening information exchange. Reading notes enabled self-management through motivation, prompting information seeking, and reminding them of action steps. Patients reacted positively to statements suggesting the provider listened to them, saw them as a person, and was attentive to details, which fostered the relationship. Most patients reacted negatively to medical terminology, incorrect information, and wording that was perceived as disparaging. CONCLUSIONS: Sharing clinic notes with patients can promote information exchange, enable self-management, and strengthen the patient-provider relationship. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Incorporating patients' recommendations for writing notes could strengthen the benefits of sharing notes.
Authors: Kathleen M Mazor; H Jane Rogers; Andrew E Williams; Douglas W Roblin; Bridget Gaglio; Terry S Field; Sarah M Greene; Paul K J Han; Mary E Costanza Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2012-07-11
Authors: Jan Walker; Suzanne Leveille; Sigall Bell; Hannah Chimowitz; Zhiyong Dong; Joann G Elmore; Leonor Fernandez; Alan Fossa; Macda Gerard; Patricia Fitzgerald; Kendall Harcourt; Sara Jackson; Thomas H Payne; Jocelyn Perez; Hannah Shucard; Rebecca Stametz; Catherine DesRoches; Tom Delbanco Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2019-05-06 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Eric Wright; Jonathan Darer; Xiaoqin Tang; Jason Thompson; Lorraine Tusing; Alan Fossa; Tom Delbanco; Long Ngo; Jan Walker Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2015-10-08 Impact factor: 5.428