Patients’ perspectives on care, communication, and teamwork in the emergency department

ElsevierVolume 66, January 2023, 101238International Emergency NursingAuthor links open overlay panelHighlights•

Patients felt safe when met by an empathic and caring HCP in the ED.

Patients wanted to be individually acknowledged and to participate in their ED care.

Lack of information increased patients’ discomfort and anxiety in the ED.

AbstractBackground

The work of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the emergency department (ED) involves effective communication and efficient teamwork, which may be perceived differently by patients and HCPs. Therefore, it is important to explore patient perspectives of information exchange and clinical assessment.

Aim

To evaluate experiences of care, communication, and teamwork from ED patients’ perspectives.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 patients who were assessed in a Swedish ED during Spring 2021. Thematic analysis was used.

Results

Participants’ experiences reflected the complex environment of the ED. Findings emphasize the importance of information exchange in relation to a caring approach. Three themes emerged: the need for a caring approach by HCPs towards patients’; the need for dialogue between patient and HCPs; and the need for information on ED environment constraints.

Conclusions

Patients felt comforted when they experienced a caring empathic approach from the HCPs. For example, patients valued an individual holistic approach rather than feeling that they were being objectified by their medical conditions. This was important in coping with the anxiety caused by a stressful ED environment. There is a critical need for effective exchange of information between patients and HCPs.

Keywords

Interprofessional

Teamwork

Emergency department

Communication

Patient

Patient safety

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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