Patient perspectives on communication with the medical team: pilot study using the Communication Assessment Tool-Team (CAT-T).
OBJECTIVE
Effective communication is an essential aspect of high-quality patient care and a core competency for physicians. To date, assessment of communication skills in team-based settings has not been well established. We sought to tailor a psychometrically validated instrument, the Communication Assessment Tool, for use in Team settings (CAT-T), and test the feasibility of collecting patient perspectives of communication with medical teams in the emergency department (ED).


METHODS
A prospective, cross-sectional study in an academic, tertiary, urban, Level 1 trauma center using the CAT-T, a 15-item instrument. Items were answered via a 5-point scale, with 5 = excellent. All adult ED patients (> or = 18 y/o) were eligible if the following exclusion criteria did not apply: primary psychiatric issues, critically ill, physiologically unstable, non-English speaking, or under arrest.


RESULTS
81 patients were enrolled (mean age: 44, S.D. = 17; 44% male). Highest ratings were for treating the patient with respect (69% excellent), paying attention to the patient (69% excellent), and showing care and concern (69% excellent). Lowest ratings were for greeting the patient appropriately (54%), encouraging the patient to ask questions (54%), showing interest in the patient's ideas about his or her health (53% excellent), and involving the patient in decisions as much as he or she wanted (53% excellent).


CONCLUSIONS
Although this pilot study has several methodological limitations, it demonstrates a signal that patient assessment of communication with the medical team is feasible and offers important feedback. Results indicate the need to improve communication in the ED.


CONCLUSIONS
In the ED, focusing on the medical team rather then individual caregivers may more accurately reflect patients' experience.
Mercer
Laura Min
LM
Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Tanabe
Paula
P
Pang
Peter S
PS
Gisondi
Michael A
MA
Courtney
D Mark
DM
Engel
Kirsten G
KG
Donlan
Sarah M
SM
Adams
James G
JG
Makoul
Gregory
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014481:United States