Improving serious illness communication: a qualitative study of clinical culture.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Communication about patients' values, goals, and prognosis in serious illness (serious illness communication) is a cornerstone of person-centered care yet difficult to implement in practice. As part of Serious Illness Care Program implementation in five health systems, we studied the clinical culture-related factors that supported or impeded improvement in serious illness conversations.

Methods

Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews of clinical leaders, implementation teams, and frontline champions.

Results

We completed 30 interviews across palliative care, oncology, primary care, and hospital medicine. Participants identified four culture-related domains that influenced serious illness communication improvement: (1) clinical paradigms; (2) inter

SUBMITTER: Paladino J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10362669 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature