title: Patients' comprehension of their emergency department encounter: a pilot study using physician observers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study examines patients' comprehension of their emergency department (ED) encounter, using physician observers to document both physician communication and details of the encounter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients were recruited from a convenience sample in an urban ED. To be included in this study, patients had to have low triage levels (4 and 5) and be discharged from the ED. Physician observers were present throughout the encounter, documenting physician communication and procedures performed. Patients were then interviewed by physician observers about their communication with physicians, accuracy in recalling facts about the encounter, and understanding of information provided during the encounter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients were black and had a high school education. Physicians typically engaged in behaviors related to building rapport and diagnosing patients. However, physicians informed patients about test results and diagnoses less frequently. In terms of patients' accuracy and understanding of the visit, patients were generally aware of basic facts in regard to their ED encounter (ie, whether they had blood drawn), but 65.9% of patients demonstrated less than "good" understanding in at least 1 area assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the current study indicate physicians could improve communication with patients, particularly in regard to care received in the ED. This study also indicates that a large percentage of patients fail to understand information about their ED encounter even when physicians provide it. A primary limitation of the current study is the relatively homogenous physician sample.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Medical Education, Emergency Medicine, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Electronic address: mmuss1@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Mandi W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, LSU Health-Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: J Nelson
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, LSU Health-Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, LSU Health-Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daray
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, LSU Health-Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, LSU Health-Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lancaster
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, LSU Health-Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-School of Medicine New Orleans, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Glenn N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult