Communication

Anchoring Vignettes for Communication

Questions:

Now, how would you rate the experience of how clearly health care providers communicated with [name of person/you]?

Response categories:

  1. Very good
  2. Good
  3. Moderate
  4. Bad
  5. Very bad

Vignettes:

  1. [Deborah] is a young woman who has been brought to the clinic by her family, because she feels anxious. She is also afraid that she may die although she is in good health. She spoke to the doctor there who advised [Deborah] on how she may deal with her anxiety. The doctor asked Deborah how she thought she would be able to use the advice he gave her. They discussed her suggestions and how she could call him if there was anything else she needed to ask him in the future.

  2. [Pia] goes to the emergency clinic, because of intense stomach pain. After the investigations, the doctor sits down with Pia and for 20 minutes explains to Pia her diagnosis and the way the treatment works. The doctor is from a different part of the country so speaks with a different accent but he speaks slower to help her understand. Once or twice she asks him what he means when he says certain things. He answer her using some examples that she is more familiar with.

  3. [Sonia] has arrived at the clinic with her three-month-old baby girl. Sonia says that the baby has lost a lot of weight, has had fever for two days and will not take her milk. After a brief discussion together the nurse said what she thought was the problem. She asked Sonia if she understood and gave her some powered milk and medicine to give to the baby.

  4. [Mario] has been told that he has epilepsy and that he needs to take medication. The doctor has very briefly explained what the condition is. He is very busy and there is a queue of patients waiting to see him. Mario would like to know more about what he has, but feels that there is no time to ask questions. The doctor says goodbye to Mario, and Mario leaves the office.

  5. [Thomas] has noticed that he cannot see very well anymore. He goes to the doctor, who tells him that he has cataracts and that he needs an operation. The doctor has explained to Thomas what he has, but Thomas did not understand everything and asks the doctor to explain more. The doctor takes the time to explain again, but still Thomas does not fully understand.

  6. [Akiko] is in hospital after a car accident. She has lots of scratches, bruises and some broken bones. When the doctor visits her on his last ward round, the doctor asked the nurse to see [Akiko's] medical records. He asked the nurse some questions and then he said that [Akiko] was making good progress. [Akiko] supposes that she will still stay there for another week but is unsure.

  7. [Phil] goes to the clinic to receive treatment for his skin disease. After a brief discussion, the nurse puts cream on Phil's skin. Phil then tells the nurse that he is worried because his children are not doing well in school. The nurse ignores this comment and tells Phil to come back next week if the skin problem has not improved.

  8. [Jiang] has been having pain in his chest for a while. Whenever he coughs or exercises, his chest is especially painful. He has been smoking for 30 years. After examining him, the doctor has told him that he will get cancer if he does not stop smoking. He explains to [Jiang] the effects of smoking on his lungs, his heart and the people around him. [Jiang] understood most of what the doctor said but couldn't really see how he was going to stop.

  9. [Carmen] has gone for a blood test and the doctor has told her that she has "diabetes mellitus" and that her "pancreatic activity is faulty". He has also told her she needs "regular insulin injections" and that she should watch for "hypoglycaemia" and becoming blind. [Carmen] feels very confused and scared, because she does not understand what the doctor is talking about, but she has to leave because the doctor has already called the next patient.

  10. [Rose] is an elderly woman who can not write or read. Lately, she has been feeling dizzy and has problems sleeping. She went to the doctor. The doctor did not seem very interested in what she was telling him. He told her it was nothing and wrote something on a piece of paper, telling her to get the medication at the pharmacy. He then gave her a brochure explaining her condition-ignoring the fact that Rose could not read. He then sent Rose away.