Patients' experiences of communication and involvement in decision-making about atrial
fibrillation treatment in consultations with nurses and physicians
Sammanfattning
Background: Insights in consultations across patient interactions with physicians and nurses are
of vital importance for strengthening the patients' involvement in the treatment decision-making
process. The experience of involvement and communication in decision-making from the patients'
perspective has been sparsely explored.
Objective: To examine how patients describe involvement in and communication about decision-
making regarding treatment in consultations with nurses and physicians.
Method: Twenty-two patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), aged 37-90 years, were interviewed directly
after their consultations with nurses and physicians in outpatient AF clinics in six Swedish hospitals.
Results: In consultations with nurses, the patients felt involved when obtaining clarifications about AF
as a disease and its treatment and when preparing for and building up confidence in decision-
making. In consultations with physicians, the patients felt involved when they could cooperate in
decision-making, when acquiring knowledge, and when they felt that they were being understood. One
shared category was found in consultations with both nurses and physicians, and the patients felt
involved when they had a sense of trust and felt secure during and between consultations.
Conclusions: Patients with AF stated that they would need to acquire knowledge and build up
confidence and ability in order to be effectively involved in the decision-making about treatment.
Despite not being actively involved in decision-making, patients felt involved through experiencing
supportive and confirming communication.
Practice implications: Attention must be given to the relationship with the patient to create the
conditions for patient involvement in the consultation. This can be achieved through supportive
communication attempting to create a feeling of clarity and building confidence. This will support
involvement in decision-making concerning AF treatment and feelings of being understood and of
trust in physicians and/or nurses. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.