SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-The Impact of Communication Tools on Perceived Physician Communication Skill

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This project examined whether standard communication tools affect patients’ perceptions of physician communication skill in hospitalized adults.

<strong>Background:</strong> Patient-centered care depends in part on clear physician communication. Prior studies showed that tools like facecards and whiteboards can help patients identify physicians and improve satisfaction.

<strong>Methods:</strong> From March to May 2022, adult patients on medical-surgical units staffed by non-teaching hospitalists were interviewed by the Patient Experience Team within 24–48 hours of admission. Patients were asked whether their physician used three communication tools: a <strong>facecard</strong>, <strong>whiteboard</strong>, and <strong>to-do list</strong>. They then answered three Likert-scale questions about:
1. understanding why they were hospitalized,
2. understanding what needed to happen before discharge,
3. rating the physician’s communication skills.

Responses were grouped into <strong>low perceived communication skill</strong> (scores 1–3) and <strong>high perceived communication skill</strong> (scores 4–5).

<strong>Results:</strong> Use of communication tools was associated with higher perceived physician communication skill across all question groups. The <strong>to-do list</strong> had the strongest effect and was the only tool significantly associated with all outcomes. For the overall communication rating, patients who saw a to-do list were <strong>more than 25 times more likely</strong> to give a high score. For understanding why they were hospitalized, <strong>facecards</strong> and <strong>to-do lists</strong> were significant, with facecards associated with a 2.6-fold increase and to-do lists with a 45-fold increase in high scores.

<strong>Conclusions:</strong> Standard communication tools positively influence how patients view physician communication. The <strong>to-do list</strong> showed the greatest impact. The authors recommend standardizing use of facecards and to-do lists across the hospitalist group, improving access to these tools, and providing communication workshops to further raise patient experience and HCAHPS scores.

Asset Subtitle

Julie C. Kielt

Meta Tag

Author List Glenn Westphal, Jeff Barbee, Julie C. Kielt, Sharon S. Clark

Category Research

Concept Physician Communication Skills

Concept Task List

Concept Patient Comprehension

Concept Patient Perception

Concept Hospitalization Reason

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization The Ohio State University

Presenting Author Julie C. Kielt

Track Communication

Keywords

patient-centered care

physician communication

hospitalized adults

communication tools

facecard

whiteboard

to-do list

patient perception

hospitalist group

HCAHPS scores

Physician Communication Skills

Task List

Patient Comprehension

Patient Perception

Hospitalization Reason