title: Communication Within Hospice Interdisciplinary Teams: A Narrative Review.
abstract: Hospice care is coordinated through an interdisciplinary team (IDT), which assures that a holistic care plan based on the patient's wishes is implemented. The extent to which an IDT provides quality care may be associated with how effectively they communicate within the team as well as with patients, caregivers, and families. This review seeks to characterize communication strategies among hospice IDT members and to determine how such strategies impact patient care. Although the existing literature sheds some light on communication within hospice IDTs, further research is needed. Inquiry into the communicative process of IDTs in settings other than team meetings, such as during patient visits or informal settings, would provide a more comprehensive representation of how communication influences IDT dynamics and overall team functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Randi Ginger
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA bapenteng@georgiasouthern.edu.
authors.forename: Bettye A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Apenteng
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006126:Group Processes; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: collaboration; communication; coordinated care; end-of-life; hospice; interdisciplinary team; palliative care