Critical moments in physician-patient conversations on endometriosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Critical moments in physician-patient conversations in the context of complex diseases using the example of endometriosis: what coaching research and practice can contribute to the debate
IRAS ID
201340
Contact name
Nicole Pillinger
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Brookes University, Department of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 29 days
Research summary
The purpose of the study is to explore how physicians and patients relate to each other in significant or tense moments of diagnosis and treatment option consultations, when talking about complex conditions, such as life-restricting forms of endometriosis. While patients in these situations are challenged to deal with uncertainty and sometimes experience unexpected strong emotions, attending physicians need to tolerate and put to use anxieties of their own constructively to guide the conversation and inquire about details.
Researching both physician and patient perceptions of critical moments during decisive conversations can provide a better understanding of how physicians facilitate the conversations to gather information for diagnosis and how they notice what is important for the patient who is experiencing this situation. The study involves conversations between physicians and their patients from different care stages to explore how these conversations work at different points in health care. It explores consultations in primary care regarding initial diagnosis of endometriosis and first treatment options, consultations in non-emergency specialist care relating to further investigation and adapted treatment options, and consultations in tertiary care were highly complex cases are discussed.
Findings can possibly be used to propose guidelines for physician’s continuous development. Further investigation of initial diagnosis and treatment option consultations will be audio-recorded. Physicians and patients will be interviewed individually, after the consultation. Interviews will explore whether participants have experienced critical moments, and how. The interviews will take place in a quiet room. Physicians and patients will also be asked to reflect on a summary of their interview and to discuss it with the researcher. Physicians will, in addition, engage in reflective conversations on patient encounters. For patients, the study will last one year (4 1/4h of anticipated time effort). For physicians, the study will last two years (7 1/4h of anticipated time effort).
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0063
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion