Semin Speech Lang 2017; 38(03): 229-238
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1602842
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Patient-Provider Communication Training for Dysarthria: Lessons Learned from Student Trainees

Michael Burns
1   Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
,
Carolyn Baylor
2   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
,
Kathryn Yorkston
2   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 June 2017 (online)

Abstract

Patient-provider communication skills training programs rarely include content addressing how health care providers can improve communication with patients exhibiting dysarthria and other communication disorders. Consequently, these patients often struggle to access quality health care services. This article describes a training program focused on giving health care students the opportunity to interact with standardized patients portraying dysarthria and aphasia. A summary of the program's outcome is then provided from the perspective of the students involved as well as lessons students taught us about how to continue improving this type of program and to make it a more universal part of health care education.

 
  • References

  • 1 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Board of Medical Specialties. General competencies: minimal program requirements language. ACGME and ABMS, September 1999. Available at: http://www.acgme.org/ . Accessed May 8, 2017
  • 2 Nordehn G, Meredith A, Bye L. A preliminary investigation of barriers to achieving patient-centered communication with patients who have stroke-related communication disorders. Top Stroke Rehabil 2006; 13 (01) 68-77
  • 3 McCooey R, Toffolo D, Code C. A socioenvironmental approach to functional communication in hospital in-patients. In: Worrall LE, Frattali CM. , eds. Neurogenic Communication Disorders: A Functional Approach. New York, NY: Thieme; 2000: 295-311
  • 4 Murphy J. Perceptions of communication between people with communication disability and general practice staff. Health Expect 2006; 9 (01) 49-59
  • 5 Pound C, Duchan J, Penman T, Hewitt A, Parr S. Communication access to organisations: inclusionary practices for people with aphasia. Aphasiology 2007; 21 (01) 23-38
  • 6 Gordon C, Ellis-Hill C, Ashburn A. The use of conversational analysis: nurse-patient interaction in communication disability after stroke. J Adv Nurs 2009; 65 (03) 544-553
  • 7 Balandin S, Hemsley B, Sigafoos J, Green V. Communicating with nurses: the experiences of 10 adults with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs. Appl Nurs Res 2007; 20 (02) 56-62
  • 8 Bartlett G, Blais R, Tamblyn R, Clermont RJ, MacGibbon B. Impact of patient communication problems on the risk of preventable adverse events in acute care settings. CMAJ 2008; 178 (12) 1555-1562
  • 9 Hoffman JM, Yorkston KM, Shumway-Cook A, Ciol MA, Dudgeon BJ, Chan L. Effect of communication disability on satisfaction with health care: a survey of Medicare beneficiaries. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2005; 14 (03) 221-228
  • 10 Ziviani J, Lennox N, Allison H, Lyons M, Del Mar C. Meeting in the middle: improving communication in primary health care consultations with people with an intellectual disability. J Intellect Dev Disabil 2004; 29 (03) 211-225
  • 11 Skinder-Meredith A, Bye L, Bulthuis K, Schueller A. Patient-centered communication survey of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Care Manag J 2007; 8 (01) 8-15
  • 12 Egnew TR, Mauksch LB, Greer T, Farber SJ. Integrating communication training into a required family medicine clerkship. Acad Med 2004; 79 (08) 737-743
  • 13 Losh DP, Mauksch LB, Arnold RW. , et al. Teaching inpatient communication skills to medical students: an innovative strategy. Acad Med 2005; 80 (02) 118-124
  • 14 Yorkston K, Baylor C, Burns M, Morris M, McNalley T. Medical education: preparing professionals to enhance communication access in healthcare settings. In: Blackstone S, Beukelman D, Yorkston K. , eds. Patient Provider Communication: Roles of Speech-Language Pathologists and Other Health Care Professionals. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing; 2015: 37-72
  • 15 Morris MA, Yorkston K, Clayman ML. Improving communication in the primary care setting: perspectives of patients with speech disabilities. Patient 2014; 7 (04) 397-401
  • 16 Nyström M. Professional aphasia care trusting the patient's competence while facing existential issues. J Clin Nurs 2009; 18 (17) 2503-2510
  • 17 Legg C, Young L, Bryer A. Training sixth-year medical students in obtaining case-history information from adults with aphasia. Aphasiology 2005; 19 (06) 559-575
  • 18 Simmons-Mackie N, Kagan A, Christie C, Huijbregts M, McEwen S, Willems J. Communicative access and decision making for people with aphasia: implementing sustainable healthcare systems change. Aphasiology 2007; 21 (01) 39-66
  • 19 Welsh JD, Szabo GB. Teaching nursing assistant students about aphasia and communication. Semin Speech Lang 2011; 32 (03) 243-255
  • 20 Sorin-Peters R, McGilton K, Rochon E. The development and evaluation of a training programme for nurses working with persons with communication disorders in a complex continuing care facility. Aphasiology 2010; 24 (12) 1511-1536
  • 21 McGilton K, Irwin-Robinson H, Boscart V, Spanjevic L. Communication enhancement: nurse and patient satisfaction outcomes in a complex continuing care facility. J Adv Nurs 2006; 54 (01) 35-44
  • 22 Burns M, Baylor C, Morris M, McNalley T, Yorkston K. Training healthcare providers in patient–provider communication: what speech-language pathology and medical education can learn from one another. Aphasiology 2012; 26 (05) 673-688
  • 23 Baylor C, Burns M, Struijk J, Herron L, Mach H, Yorkston K. Assessing the believability of standardized patients trained to portray communication disorders. Am J Speech Lang Pathol, In press
  • 24 Burns M, Baylor C, Dudgeon BJ, Starks H, Yorkston K. Asking the stakeholders: perspectives of individuals with aphasia, their family caregivers, and physicians regarding communication during medical interactions. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2015; 24 (03) 341-357