The Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup features summaries of recently published studies on humanism in healthcare. To receive email notification of new studies once per month, enter your information here and select “Jeffrey Silver Research Roundup” from the checkboxes at the bottom. See previous posts in this series.
Publications from Gold Foundation-Affiliated Authors
Digital storytelling in health professions education: A systematic review Free full text
Moreau KA, Eady K, Sikora L, Horsley T. BMC Med Educ. 2018 Sep 10;18(1):208.
This study was funded by a Mapping the Landscape grant.
Digital stories are short videos that combine stand-alone and first-person narratives with multimedia. Researchers conducted a systematic review of the contexts and purposes for using digital storytelling in health professions education (HPE). A comprehensive database search resulted in a full review of 16 articles. Half represented the undergraduate nursing context. The co-creation of patients’ digital stories with health professionals as well as the creation and use of health professionals’ own digital stories enhanced learning. Patients’ digital stories alone had minimal impact on health professionals’ learning.
Health needs and experiences of a LGBT population in Georgia and South Carolina
Stepleman LM, Yohannan J, Scott SM, Titus LL, Walker J, et al. J Homosex. 2018 Aug 10:1-25.
This study was supported by a Student Summer Fellowship awarded to Mr. Yohannan.
Researchers conducted the first health needs assessment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in a region in which a city was rated as one of the least friendly to the LGBT population. 436 participants took part in an anonymous online survey. Researchers found that the health problems experienced (i.e., obesity, depression) were not uniformly experienced across sexual orientation and gender identity. Transgender individuals in particular reported higher rates of negative experiences with health care providers.
“Hot Seat” simulation model for conflict resolution: A pilot study
Kim S, Frans E, Bohannon I, Barr K, Buttrick E, Fehr R, Shannon SE. J Healthc Qual. 2018 Jul/Aug;40(4):177-186.
Drs. Kim and Fehr, Ms. Frans and Ms. Buttrick are Mapping the Landscape grantees.
Sixty clinicians were split into two groups. One group received a 3-hour conflict resolution training using facilitated practice with actors, coaching, and feedback. The other group did not receive the training. Researchers found that the group that received the training had two statistically significant differences: they were more likely to open the dialogue on a neutral ground before jumping into conflict discussions and they were more likely to listen to the other person’s story before sharing their own.
A road map for advancing the practice of respect in health care: The results of an interdisciplinary modified Delphi consensus study
Sokol-Hessner L, Folcarelli PH, Annas CL, Brown SM, Fernandez L, Roche SD, Sarnoff Lee B, Sands KE; Practice of Respect Delphi Study Group. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2018 Aug;44(8):463-476.
Drs. Sokol-Hessner, Folcarelli, Annas, Sands and Ms. Sarnoff Lee are Mapping the Landscape grantees.
Most health care organizations’ efforts to reduce harm focus on physical harm, but “nonphysical” harms are also important to reduce. A diverse, interdisciplinary panel of experts was convened to discuss strategies on this topic. A modified Delphi consensus process identified six high-level recommendations as a road map for healthcare organizations and professionals interested in engaging in a reliable practice of respect.
Communication training for inter-specialty clinicians
October TW, Dizon ZB, Hamilton MF, Madrigal VN, Arnold RM. Clin Teach. 2018 Aug 16.
Dr. Arnold is a Mapping the Landscape grantee.
Inter-specialty clinicians often co-lead family conferences for hospitalized patients, but families frequently report receiving different messages from different clinicians. Researchers developed a two-day communication training in which cross-discipline clinicians learn how to deliver a unified message. Learners’ self-reported confidence improved, every participant rated the workshop as important to their clinical practice, and 100% would strongly recommend it to others.
Building a program on well-being: Key design considerations to meet the unique needs of each organization
Shanafelt T, Trockel M, Ripp J, Murphy ML, Sandborg C, Bohman B. Acad Med. 2018 Aug 21.
Drs. Shanafelt and Ripp are Mapping the Landscape grantees.
Burnout among healthcare professionals is primarily caused by organizational factors rather than problems with personal resilience. Four major drivers motivate healthcare leaders to build well-being programs: the moral-ethical case (caring for their people), the business case (cost of turnover and lower quality), the tragic case (a physician suicide), and the regulatory case (accreditation requirements). In this article, the authors discuss the purpose; scope; structure and resources; metrics of success; and a framework for action for organizational well-being programs.
Failures in the respectful care of critically ill patients
Law AC, Roche S, Reichheld A, Folcarelli P, Cocchi MN, Howell MD, Sands K, Stevens JP. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2018 Aug 28. pii: S1553-7250(18)30148-X.
Drs. Folcarelli and Sands are Mapping the Landscape grantees.
Over 1,500 people across nine intensive care units responded to a survey about whether they experienced respect for the patient and family during a hospital stay. 16% and 21% reported that the patient or the family member, respectively, received inadequate respect. No clinical characteristics of the patients were associated with inadequate respect for either the patient or the family member. More than half of respondents reported a lack of control over their loved one’s care.
Other publications
Grab a seat! Nudging providers to sit improves the patient experience in the emergency department Free full text
Orloski CJ, Tabakin ER, Shofer FS, Myers JS, Mills, AM. J Patient Exp. 2018 July 11.
Researchers conducted an experiment where they added folding chairs to some emergency department patient rooms and not others. They surveyed over 2,800 patients about their experience and found that when providers sat down during their time with a patient, it resulted in significantly higher patient satisfaction scores. They also found that following an informational video campaign, providers were 30% more likely to sit down if a folding chair with the project slogan “Grab a seat!” was provided in the room.
Verbal and non-verbal communication skills including empathy during history taking of undergraduate medical students Free full text
Vogel D, Meyer M, Harendza S. BMC Med Educ. 2018 Jul 3;18(1):157.
Researchers analyzed video of final-year undergraduate medical students taking histories of simulated patients to examine patterns of verbal and non-verbal communication. There were significant gender differences in these patterns. In general, non-verbal communication correlated significantly with verbal communication and with empathy while verbal communication showed no significant correlation with empathy.
Extent of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and burnout in nursing: A meta-analysis
Zhang YY, Han WL, Qin W, Yin HX, Zhang CF, Kong C, Wang YL. J Nurs Manag. 2018 Aug 20.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of the prevalence rates of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and burnout to identify the factors influencing these rates. Data from 21 studies showed that the prevalence rates of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and burnout were 47.55%, 52.55% and 51.98%, respectively. Having completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree was significantly inversely associated with the prevalence of compassion fatigue and burnout. Additional education and training may have a moderating effect on compassion fatigue and burnout.
