title: Asking the Stakeholders: Perspectives of Individuals With Aphasia, Their Family Members, and Physicians Regarding Communication in Medical Interactions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with aphasia, their family members, and physicians related to communication during medical interactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants—6 patients with aphasia, 6 family members involved in patient care, and 6 practicing physicians. A qualitative description approach was used to collect and summarize narratives from participants' perspectives and experiences. Participants were asked about experiences with communication during medical interactions in which the family member accompanied the patient. Interviews were audio- and/or video-recorded, transcribed, and then coded to identify main themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients and family members generally described their communication experiences as positive, yet all participants discussed challenges and frustrations. Three themes emerged: (a) patients and family members work as a team, (b) patients and family members want physicians to "just try" to communicate with the patient, and (c) physicians want to interact with patients but may not know how.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants discussed the need for successful accommodation, or changing how one communicates, to help facilitate the patients' increased understanding and ability to express themselves. Over- and underaccommodation with communication were commonly reported as problems. Speech-language pathologists have a role to play in helping to improve communication during medical interactions. Implications for current speech-language pathologist practice and future directions of research are discussed.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baylor
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Dudgeon
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Starks
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yorkston
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology