title: Communication that heals: mindful communication practices from palliative care leaders.
abstract: Though research has begun to highlight the centrality of communication in palliative care, studies have yet to focus on the use of mindful communication. Mindful communication is associated with increases in patient care and decreases in physician burnout. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews the authors sought mindful communication practices from palliative care leaders in American Hospital Association Circle of Life® award-wining units. Four key mindful communication practices emerged: Know your audience, ask questions, discard scripts, and recognize your role. The discussion articulates how key mindful communication practices may be used as a stage model, where key practices may be used individually or in concert, by sole practitioners or within interdisciplinary teams and by new and seasoned clinicians. Theoretical contributions and areas for future inquiry are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: a School of Communication Western Michigan University.
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Omilion-Hodges
authors.affiliation: b Department of Communication Studies University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Nathan M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Swords
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000573:American Hospital Association; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014481:United States