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Qualitative
Good communication with healthcare providers helped patients with multiple sclerosis to cope and adapt

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebn.7.4.124

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    Thorne S, Con A, McGuinness L, et al. Health care communication issues in multiple sclerosis: an interpretive description. Qual Health Res 2004;14:5–22.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science

    Q How do people with multiple sclerosis (MS) describe and explain helpful and unhelpful communications in their health care?

    DESIGN

    Interpretive descriptive study.

    SETTING

    A city in western Canada.

    PARTICIPANTS

    12 Euro-Canadians (83% women) who were 33–54 years of age, had been diagnosed with MS ⩾5 years ago, and were seeking healthcare services to help them live with their disease. 7 were unemployed because of their chronic condition, 3 were employed, 1 was on leave of absence, and 1 was a student. 6 had been professionals (3 healthcare professionals).

    METHODS

    Participants were interviewed face to face for 1–2 hours. Interviews were audiotaped verbatim, and transcripts were coded for conceptual themes. A focus group interview with 8 participants was used to validate, clarify, and refine findings. 3 healthcare professionals who cared for people with MS participated in validation interviews to confirm that the logic of the participants’ perspectives would have credibility with a health professional audience.

    MAIN FINDINGS

    Participants emphasised that communication with healthcare providers affected …

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    Footnotes

    • For correspondence: Dr S Thorne, University of British Columbia School of Nursing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. thornenursing.ubc.ca

    • Source of funding: British Columbia Medical Services Foundation.