Rural family physician perspectives on communication with urban specialists: a qualitative study.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
Communication is a key competency for medical education and comprehensive patient care. In rural environments, communication between rural family physicians and urban specialists is an essential pathway for clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to explore rural physicians' perspectives on communication with urban specialists during consultations and referrals.Setting
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.Participants
This qualitative study involved semistructured, one-on-one interviews with rural family physicians (n=11) with varied career stages, geographical regions, and community sizes.Results
Four themes specific to communication in rural practice were identified. The themes included: (1) understanding the contexts of rural care; (2) geographical isolation and patient transfer; and (3) respectful discourse; and (4) overcoming communication challenges in referrals and consultations.Conclusions
Communication between rural family physicians and urban specialists is a critical task in providing care for rural patients. Rural physicians see value in conveying unique aspects of rural clinical practice during communication with urban specialists, including context and the complexities of patient transfers.
SUBMITTER: Wilson MM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8126282 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Rural family physician perspectives on communication with urban specialists: a qualitative study.
Wilson Margo M MM Devasahayam Augustine Joshua AJ Pollock Nathaniel J NJ Dubrowski Adam A Renouf Tia T
BMJ open 20210513 5
<h4>Objective</h4>Communication is a key competency for medical education and comprehensive patient care. In rural environments, communication between rural family physicians and urban specialists is an essential pathway for clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to explore rural physicians' perspectives on communication with urban specialists during consultations and referrals.<h4>Setting</h4>Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.<h4>Participants</h4>This qualitative study involved sem ...[more]
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